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☆ NASA's Boeing moon rocket set for 'once-in-a-generation' ground test
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-16 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NASA’s Boeing-built deep space exploration rocket, Space Launch System (SLS), is set to fire its behemoth core stage for the first time on Saturday, a crucial test for a years-delayed U.S. government project facing mounting pressure from emerging private sector technology. FILE PHOTO: NASA's Space Launch System mobile launcher stands atop Launch Pad 39B for months of testing before it will launch the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft on mission Artemis 1 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Thom Baur/File PhotoSpace Launch System’s hot fire test, expected to begin at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) Saturday at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, caps a nearly year-long ‘Green Run’ test campaign to validate the rocket’s design. “This is a once-in-a-generation kind of test,” Jim Maser, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Senior Vice President of Space, told Reuters. NASA and Boeing engineers have stayed on a ten-month schedule for the Green Run “despite having significant adversity this year,” Boeing’s Space Launch System manager John Shannon told reporters this week.

Persons: Thom Baur, NASA’s, Jim Maser, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s, Joe Biden’s, Jeff Bezos, John Shannon, Shannon Organizations: WASHINGTON, Boeing, SLS, Orion, Kennedy Space Center, REUTERS, NASA’s Stennis Space Center, Trump, Reuters, NASA, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, United, SpaceX, Stennis Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S, Mississippi, “

☆ U.S. state capitals on edge for armed protests as Trump presidency nears end
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-16 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: National Guard members walk at the Capitol, in Washington, U.S., January 15, 2021. In Michigan a fence was erected around the Capitol building in Lansing and troopers were mobilized from across the state to bolster security. Thousands of armed National Guard troops are now on the streets in Washington in an unprecedented show of force in the U.S. Capitol. Experts say that the capitals of battleground states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona are among those at most risk of violence. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said on Friday that while his state had not received any specific threats he was beefing up security around the Capitol in Springfield, including adding about 250 state National Guards troops.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Steve McCraw, Trump, Joe Gasper, J.B, Pritzker, Suzanne Spaulding, ”, Spaulding, “, Michael Hayden, ” Hayden Organizations: Reuters, Trump, Guards, National Guard, Capitol, REUTERS, FBI, Texas Department of Public, U.S, Michigan State Police, Yahoo News, Joint Intelligence, Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Center, U.S . Capitol, National Guards, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Southern Poverty Law Center, Twitter Locations: Washington , U.S, Michigan, Virginia , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania, Washington, Texas, Austin, Lansing, U.S, Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Springfield

☆ U.S. capitals on edge for armed protests as Trump presidency nears end
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-16 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +5 min

FILE PHOTO: National Guard members walk at the Capitol, in Washington, U.S., January 15, 2021. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File PhotoThe FBI warned police agencies of possible armed protests outside all 50 state capitol buildings starting Saturday through President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump who believe his false claims of electoral fraud. Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Washington were among states that activated their National Guards to strengthen security. In Michigan a fence was erected around the Capitol in Lansing and troopers were mobilized from across the state to bolster security. Thousands of armed National Guard troops were in the streets in Washington in an unprecedented show of force after the assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Steve McCraw, Trump, Mike Pence, Joe Gasper, J.B, Pritzker, Suzanne Spaulding, ”, Spaulding, “, Michael Hayden, ” Hayden Organizations: Reuters, D.C, Trump, National Guard, Capitol, REUTERS, FBI, Guards, Texas Department of Public, U.S, Michigan State Police, Yahoo News, Joint Intelligence, Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Center, U.S . Capitol, United Church of Christ, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Washington Post, Southern Poverty Law Center, Twitter Locations: Washington, Washington , U.S, Michigan, Virginia , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania, Texas, Austin, November’s, Lansing, Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Springfield, Virginia, Richmond

Black Americans are receiving Covid vaccinations at dramatically lower rates than white Americans in the first weeks of the chaotic rollout, according to a new Kaiser Health News analysis. But in every state, Black Americans were significantly underrepresented among people vaccinated so far. Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are dying from Covid at nearly three times the rate of white Americans, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis. And non-Hispanic Black and Asian health care workers are more likely to contract Covid and to die from it than white workers. Just over half of Black Americans who plan to get the vaccine said they’d wait to see how well it’s working in others before getting it themselves, compared with 36 percent of white Americans.

Persons: Kena Betancur, bode, ”, Fola, ” Dr, Taison Bell, Bell, —, Georges Benjamin, Eric Swenson, Mysheika Roberts, she’s, Henrietta, Louis Farrakhan, Benjamin, “, ” Benjamin, ” Roberts, Thomas Dobbs, Trump, ” Dobbs, Dobbs, that’s, Jessica Boyd, couldn’t, ” Boyd, Marcus Plescia, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Kristen Nordlund, ” Bell, Ozzie Grenardo, Willy Nuyens, Nuyens, Covid Organizations: Kaiser Health, Pfizer, Getty, Centers for Disease Control, UCLA, University of Virginia Health, Blacks, Nurses, Moderna, American Public Health Association, Southern Poverty Law, Ad, Health, Human Services Department, Unity Health Care, Association of State, Territorial Health, CDC, KFF, Centura Health, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, NBC, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Black, Corsi, Harlem , New York, AFP, Covid, Columbus , Ohio, Islam, Mississippi, Washington, Missouri, U.S, Colorado, Los Angeles County

☆ Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers fostered false election allegations that fueled Capitol riot
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-16 | by ( Phil Mccausland | Phil Mccausland Is An Nbc News Reporter Focused On Rural Issues | The Social Safety Net. | ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +9 min

Tom Wolf has assigned 450 members of the state’s National Guard to protect the Pennsylvania Capitol. A day prior to the riot in the Capitol, Pennsylvania Republicans refused to seat state Sen. Jim Brewster, a Democrat who won a tight race in the western part of the state by 69 votes. Mastriano and Perry, both Republicans, are two Pennsylvania lawmakers who pushed election fraud conspiracy theories in their state at two levels of government. Fetterman and other Democrats lay much of the responsibility for the perpetuation of the election falsehoods in Pennsylvania at the feet of Perry, Mastriano and state Republicans. Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, attends a hearing of the Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Policy Committee, in Gettysburg, Pa. on Nov. 25, 2020.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Scott Perry, Sen, Doug Mastriano —, Joe Biden’s, Tom Wolf, ”, Wolf, Jack Thomas Tomarchio, Bush, —, “, Jim Brewster, Gov, John Fetterman, Brewster, Jan, Mark Makela, Fetterman, Perry, Mastriano, Mark Kauzlarich, could’ve, ” Fetterman, Doug Mastriano, Julio Cortez Organizations: Trump, Washington , D.C, state’s National Guard, Pennsylvania Capitol, National Guard, Pennsylvania —, Pennsylvania Democrats, Republican, Pennsylvania Republicans, Democrat, Gov, Democrats, Supreme, ” Republicans, Harrisburg Republicans, GOP, Army, Army War College, Pennsylvania National Guard, Pennsylvania Commonwealth, White, Capitol, Franklin, Pennsylvania, Media Matters, America, NPR, Facebook, Freedom, Operations Locations: Pennsylvania, Washington ,, Washington, Capitol, Brewster, Harrisburg, Pa, Gettysburg, Mastriano, Chambersburg

☆ HHS's Azar tells Trump Capitol attack could tarnish legacy
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-16 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told President Donald Trump in a letter this week that the attack on the Capitol could tarnish the legacy of the administration. In the Jan. 12 letter, Azar cited what he called the administration’s successes, including the rapid development of coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics, which he said saved “hundreds of thousands or even millions of American lives.”But, Azar, who will remain on the job until President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, voiced concern that last week’s mob siege of the Capitol building and Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud “threaten to tarnish these and other historic legacies of this administration.”“The attacks on the Capitol were an assault on our democracy and on the tradition of peaceful transitions of power,” Azar wrote in his formal resignation letter.

Persons: Alex Azar, Donald Trump, Azar, Joe Biden’s, ”, ” Azar Organizations: WASHINGTON, . Health, Human Services, Capitol

☆ Higher-yielding U.S. muni bonds cheer Biden's state, city budget relief
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Karen Pierog | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

CHICAGO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A big burst of federal aid for U.S. states and local governments in Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s massive fiscal stimulus plan helped higher-yielding debt from lower-rated issuers in the U.S. municipal bond market on Friday. Investors have flocked to high-yield muni bond funds, which reported record-high net inflows topping $1 billion in the week ended Jan. 13. Groups representing states, cities and counties have been clamoring for more federal aid as the economic fallout from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic led to revenue shortfalls. Moody’s Analytics recently reduced its projected fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2022 gross shortfall for states and local governments to $330 billion from $450 billion due to an improved economic outlook. With New York State’s new fiscal year beginning on April 1, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday called on Washington to pass Biden’s plan and fill the state’s $15 billion budget gap.

Persons: Jan, Joe Biden’s, Greg Saulnier, MMD, Biden, ”, Emily Swenson Brock, Andrew Cuomo, ’, Tom Kozlik Organizations: CHICAGO, Democratic, Investors, Government Finance, Federal Liaison, York, U.S . Senate, Republicans, HilltopSecurities Inc Locations: U.S, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, York

☆ Fact check: Evidence disproves claims of Italian conspiracy to meddle in U.S. election (known as #ItalyGate)
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +9 min

REUTERSExamples of posts making these claims can be seen here , here and here . Nations in Action did not respond to Reuters request for comment or elaboration on their “evidence” for these claims. The hacking took place years prior to the 2020 U.S. election (between 2015 and 2017). SIMILAR THEORIES, SECURE ELECTIONSIn mid-November, the Reuters Fact Check team debunked similar false social media claims of election interference out of Europe. There is no legitimate evidence that an employee of the Italian defense company Leonardo SpA interfered in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, “, Leonardo, Arturo D’Elia, Italy ”, Joe Biden, Maria Strollo Zack, ”, LEONARDO, ARTURO D’ELIA, Antonio Rossi, Nicola Naponiello, Naponiello, D’Elia, D’Elia “, Leonardo SpA, Arturo D’Elia’s, Alfio, D’Urso, CLAUDIO GRAZIANO, President Trump, Zack, Claudio Graziano, Leonardo ”, Biden, Graziano, Scytl, Chris Krebs, Department of Homeland Security’s, Krebs, William Barr, Barr, Read Organizations: Congress, U.S . Capitol, Reuters, Global Defense, America, U.S, Facebook, Trump, Leonardo SpA ”, ” Reuters, Italian Army, Italian Defense, Posts, U.S ., Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency, Twitter, Justice Department, USA Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Sarasota , Florida, Rome, Italy, Pescara, Pomigliano, Naples, Europe, Germany, “ Rome, Frankfurt, ”

☆ Fed's Rosengren says need to keep buying MBS, Treasuries
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.98 time to read: 1 min

File Photo: The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's President and CEO Eric S. Rosengren speaks in New York, April 17, 2013. REUTERS/Keith Bedford/File Photo(Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said on Friday he welcomes President-elect Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package as “big” but “appropriate,” and signaled the Fed has no inclination to dial back from its own super-easy monetary policy. “The mix that we have actually on fiscal and monetary policy is appropriate,” Rosengren told CNBC in an interview, adding he expects stronger growth in the second half if vaccines are rolled out broadly. “It is appropriate for us to continue to be buying both MBS and Treasury securities.”

Persons: Eric S, Rosengren, Keith Bedford, Eric Rosengren, Joe Biden’s, ” Rosengren Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank, Boston's, REUTERS, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, CNBC, MBS Locations: New York

☆ Fed to stick to super-easy policy amid economic 'lull'
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

File Photo: The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's President and CEO Eric S. Rosengren speaks in New York, April 17, 2013. “The economy is in a lull right now,” he said, citing a decline in jobs in December and a still-high unemployment rate of 6.7%. “I expect that the current pace of purchases will remain appropriate for quite some time,” Fed Governor Lael Brainard said on Wednesday. Americans, he forecast, will still need to wear masks and keep social distance through the end of the year. The Fed next meets to discuss monetary policy on Jan. 26-27, and is expected to make no changes to its interest rate or bond-buying policy at that time.

Persons: Biden, Eric S, Rosengren, Keith Bedford, Eric Rosengren, Joe Biden’s, ” Rosengren, ”, Jerome Powell, ” Powell, “, Lael Brainard, Minneapolis Fed Neel Kashkari, ” Kashkari Organizations: Reuters, Federal, Federal Reserve Bank, Boston's, REUTERS, Boston Fed Bank, U.S, CNBC, ”, Minneapolis Fed, Minnesota Hospital Association ., Fed Locations: New York, Minneapolis

☆ Klain says Biden has had polite talks with Senator McConnell on getting Cabinet appointed
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.97 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks during a televised speech on the current economic and health crises at The Queen Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., January 14, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo(Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming chief of staff Ron Klain said on Friday Biden has had polite, straightforward talks with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell about the need to get his Cabinet appointed. Klain made the comment in an interview with the Washington Post.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tom Brenner, Joe Biden’s, Ron Klain, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Klain Organizations: Queen Theatre, REUTERS, Washington Post Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S

☆ Biden chief of staff Klain says he expects U.S. COVID-19 deaths to top 500,000 next month
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.73 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Healthcare personnel work inside a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) unit at United Memorial Medical Center as the United States nears 300,000 COVID-19 deaths, in Houston, Texas, U.S., December 12, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare(Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming chief of staff Ron Klain said on Friday he expects the United States to hit 500,000 COVID-19 deaths next month. Klain made the comment in an online interview with the Washington Post. Klain added that he was confident that law enforcement would ensure a safe inauguration for Biden on Jan. 20.

Persons: Callaghan O'Hare, Joe Biden’s, Ron Klain, Klain, Biden Organizations: United Memorial Medical Center, REUTERS, Reuters, Washington Post Locations: United, Houston , Texas, U.S, United States

☆ U.S. closing landmarks, announces vehicle checks in Washington for inauguration
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nation’s capital on Friday continued to boost security by shutting down access to iconic landmarks and erecting vehicle checkpoints at a security perimeter surrounding central Washington ahead of President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The National Park Service said Friday it was immediately closing the National Mall and iconic U.S. landmarks in Washington to visitors through at least Jan. 21. The Mall includes landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. In downtown D.C., Metropolitan AME Church, a historic Black church that has hosted historical Black luminaries like educator Booker T. Washington and journalist Ida B. Even before the Jan. 6 siege, the inauguration was expected to be significantly different than previous swearing-in of presidents due to coronavirus concerns.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, ” Matthew Miller, Ken Cuccinelli, ”, Ron Klain, Booker T, Washington, Ida B, Wells, Nancy Pelosi, Washington’s, Muriel Bowser, “, ” Bowser Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Secret, Trump, Capitol, National Park Service, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, West Potomac Parks, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, CNN, Washington Post, National Guard, Washington D.C, D.C, Metropolitan AME Church Locations: Washington, U.S, Virginia, East, United States, ”

☆ Trump plans to depart Washington the morning of Inauguration Day: source
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Erin ScottWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump now plans to leave Washington on the morning of Inauguration Day next Wednesday after considering a departure on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. Trump, who had already announced plans not to attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, is planning a farewell event at Joint Base Andrews, the base outside Washington where Air Force One is headquartered, the source said. A handful of White House aides plan to work for him there. Some White House advisers have been urging the Republican president to host Biden for a White House meeting ahead of Inauguration Day, but there has been no sign Trump is willing to do that, an administration official said. Trump, the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, is planning to issue more pardons before leaving.

Persons: Donald Trump, Erin Scott WASHINGTON, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Base Andrews, Biden, pardoning Organizations: Truman, White, Walter Reed Medical Center, REUTERS, Base, Air Force, Reuters Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Palm Beach , Florida

☆ Trump plans to depart Washington the morning of Inauguration Day: sources
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump now plans to leave Washington on the morning of Inauguration Day next Wednesday after considering a departure on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. Trump will then fly on to Palm Beach, Florida, to begin his post-presidency at his Mar-a-Lago club, the sources told Reuters. A handful of White House aides plan to work for Trump in Palm Beach as the former real estate tycoon works on retaining his clout in the Republican Party. Some advisers have been urging the president to host Biden for a White House meeting ahead of Inauguration Day, but there has been no sign Trump is willing to do that, an administration official said. A poll by the Pew Research Center said Trump is leaving the White House with the lowest job approval of his presidency (29%) and increasingly negative ratings for his post-election conduct.

Persons: Donald Trump, Erin Scott Trump, Joe Biden’s, Joint Base Andrews, Trump, Biden, pardoning Organizations: WASHINGTON, Truman, White, Walter Reed Medical Center, REUTERS, Joint Base, Air Force, Reuters, Trump, Republican Party, U.S, Capitol, Pew Research Center Locations: Washington, Washington , U.S, Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, Palm Beach

☆ US STOCKS-Wall Street drops as big banks fall after results
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Devik Jain | Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window.) JPMorgan fell 2.2% following a seven-day winning streak that had pushed the stock about 12% higher. The S&P 500 banks index shed 3.3%. Nine of the 11 major S&P sectors fell, with energy, financials and industrials posting the steepest declines after leading markets higher in the recent rally. The S&P 500 posted 5 new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 180 new highs and eight new lows.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, ”, Paul Nolte, “, we’ve, Dennis Dick, Morgan, Devik Jain, Medha Singh, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Maju Samuel Organizations: JPMorgan, Citigroup, Dow, Nasdaq, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc, Wells Fargo & Co, Washington Post, Biden, Kingsview Investment Management, Bright Trading, Dow Jones, Exxon Mobil Corp, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Spotify Technology SA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co, NYSE Locations: Wells Fargo, U.S, Washington, Chicago, Las Vegas, Refinitiv, Bengaluru

☆ UPDATE 1-South African rand weakens at end of volatile week, stocks fall
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +2 min

(Updates rand, bonds; adds stocks)JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - South Africa’s rand weakened against the U.S. dollar on Friday, in line with other emerging market currencies, as currency markets turned risk-averse to the benefit of the greenback. At 1510 GMT, the rand traded at 15.3000 versus the dollar, 1.41% weaker than its previous close. The rand has had a volatile week, falling one day and firming the next, mainly taking its cue from global factors. Next week, attention will turn to the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) first monetary policy meeting of 2021. The FTSE/JSE all-share index ended the week down 0.52% at 63,550 while the FTSE/JSE top-40 companies index closed down 0.49% at 58,446.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, ”, Lukman Otunuga, Joe Biden’s, Alexander Winning, Olivia Kumwenda, Dan Grebler Organizations: U.S, South African, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, FTSE Locations: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Johannesburg

Digital flyers have circulated in those spaces for weeks advertising armed marches in Washington and state capitals around the inauguration, posts that prompted recent warnings from federal law enforcement about potential violence. But some far-right groups on public platforms have cautioned supporters to avoid such demonstrations, saying, without evidence, that they are traps set by law enforcement to crack down on gun rights. MISSED SIGNSA Jan. 5 memo from an FBI office in Virginia underscores the difficulties facing law enforcement agencies now in trying to determine which threats around the inauguration are real and which are bluster. It was downplayed by many law enforcement agencies, partly because the FBI labeled the material unconfirmed “open source reporting,” according to a law enforcement source familiar with the memo. Frank Figliuzzi, a former assistant FBI director for counterintelligence, said law enforcement officials will be more active in letting some right-wing online users fomenting violence know they are being watched.

Persons: Trump, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, CONN_WYNN, Shannon Stapleton, ”, Christopher Wray, Mike Pence, “, David Westreich, Westreich, Jared Maples, Wray, Mike Sena, ” Sena, Sena, ” Steven D’Antuono, Eduard Florea, Florea, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Chris Hill, Enrique Tarrio, Devin Burghart, we’re, Melissa Ryan, Ryan, Frank Figliuzzi Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Capitol, U.S . Congress, REUTERS, U.S . Federal, San, FBI, Apple, Google, ”, New, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Center, Justice and Homeland Security, Reuters, Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, Washington , D.C, Democratic U.S, Facebook, % Security Force, Institute for Research, Human, DC Locations: Washington , U.S, Investigation’s San Francisco, San Francisco, Washington, Dubai, ., New Jersey, United States, In Queens , New York, Washington ,, Georgia, Virginia

☆ U.S. consumer sentiment slips but shows massive partisan divide
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index dropped to 79.2 early this month from a final reading of 80.7 in December. “Consumer sentiment posted trivial declines in early January despite the horrendous rise in COVID-19 deaths, the insurrection, and the impeachment of Trump,” University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers Chief Economist Richard Curtin said in a statement. The report revealed a chasm in economic sentiment between Republicans and Democrats. Even as the survey’s overall reading of sentiment dipped modestly, it plummeted to a six-and-a-half-year low among Republicans while surging to a four-year high among Democrats. “The Trump and Biden partisan gaps in expectations are too extreme to be justified by economic fundamentals,” Curtin said.

Persons: Mike Segar, Trump, Richard Curtin, Jan, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Barack Obama’s, “, ” Curtin, “ Rather, ” Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Capitol, University of Michigan, University of, Reuters, ” University of Michigan, Capitol, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Trump, Biden Locations: Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, COVID

☆ U.S. consumer sentiment slips in early January
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment dipped in early January as Americans reacted to the assault on the Capitol building in Washington and a relentless surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, weighing on the economic outlook, the University of Michigan said on Friday. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index dropped to 79.2 early this month from a final reading of 80.7 in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index would be little changed at 80. “Consumer sentiment posted trivial declines in early January despite the horrendous rise in COVID-19 deaths, the insurrection, and the impeachment of Trump,” University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers Chief Economist Richard Curtin said in a statement. Trump has subsequently been impeached for inciting the crowd to violence.

Persons: Trump, Richard Curtin, Jan, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Dan Burns, Chizu Nomiyama Organizations: Capitol, University of Michigan, The University of, Reuters, ” University of Michigan, Republican Locations: Washington, COVID

☆ US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Wall Street opens lower as big banks kick off earnings
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Wall Street’s main indexes opened lower on Friday as incoming President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan sparked fears of an increase in taxes, while investors parsed quarterly reports from major U.S. lenders. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 64.7 points, or 0.21%, at the open to 30926.77. The S&P 500 fell 6.8 points, or 0.18%, at the open to 3788.73, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 12.7 points, or 0.10%, to 13099.895 at the opening bell. (Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Medha Singh, Maju Samuel Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq Locations: 13099.895, Bengaluru

☆ PepsiCo suspends all political contributions
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: The Pepsi logo is pictured in Irwindale, California, U.S., July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni(Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc said on Friday it would suspend political donations, joining a long list of companies that are re-evaluating or halting political donations following a move to challenge U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Last week, five people lost their lives, including a police officer, when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the formal recognition of his election defeat. “We are suspending all political contributions while conducting a full review to ensure they align with our company’s values and our shared vision going forward,” the snacks and beverage maker said in a statement.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump Organizations: REUTERS, PepsiCo Inc, Capitol Locations: Irwindale , California, U.S

☆ COVID-19 pressures U.S. retail sales; manufacturing shines
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +6 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales fell for a third straight month in December as renewed measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 triggered job losses, further evidence that the wounded economy lost considerable speed at the end of 2020. FILE PHOTO: A Saint Laurent store in SoHo is closed, as retail sales suffer record drop during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., April 15, 2020. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales tumbled 1.9% last month after a downwardly revised 1.1% decline in November. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product. JOB LOSSESThe steep declines in core retail sales prompted economists to cut their consumer spending and GDP growth estimates for the fourth quarter.

Persons: Saint Laurent, Bryan R Smith, Joe Biden’s, ”, Steven Blitz, Lydia Boussour, “, Donald Trump’s, Ryan Sweet, Rubeela Farooqi Organizations: WASHINGTON, REUTERS, Commerce Department, U.S, Congress, TS Lombard, Consumers, Oxford Economics, Capitol, University of Michigan, Treasury, Federal Reserve, “, Manufacturers, Labor Department Locations: COVID, SoHo, New York City , New York, U.S, New York, West Chester , Pennsylvania, White Plains , New York

☆ Mexico president backs dropping ex-defense minister drug charges
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday his government supported a decision by the attorney general not to charge ex-Defense Minister General Salvador Cienfuegos, in a case that has roiled U.S.-Mexico diplomatic relations. FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador listens to the national anthem as he arrives to address the nation on his second anniversary as president of Mexico, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, December 1, 2020. The Mexican attorney general office’s concluded Thursday that Cienfuegos had no contact with members of the criminal organization. Lopez Obrador backed the move. The president added that if evidence surfaces against others mentioned in the U.S. investigation of Cienfuegos, Mexico could pursue cases against them.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, General Salvador Cienfuegos, Henry Romero, Enrique Pena Nieto’s, office’s, Cienfuegos, Lopez Obrador, “, ”, Joe Biden’s, Cienfuegos ’, El, El Padrino ”, ” Lopez Obrador Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, Los Angeles, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, El, United Locations: MONTERREY, Mexico, U.S, Mexico City, Cienfuegos, Washington, United States

☆ Mexico president backs dropping of drug case against ex-defense minister
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday backed the decision by his country’s attorney general not to charge ex-Defense Minister General Salvador Cienfuegos with drug crimes, in a case that has roiled U.S.-Mexico diplomatic relations. FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador listens to the national anthem as he arrives to address the nation on his second anniversary as president of Mexico, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, December 1, 2020. U.S. prosecutors later dropped the case and returned him to Mexico to be prosecuted, citing diplomatic sensitivities. “It’s a decision the attorney general’s office makes, but one that the government I represent supports,” said Lopez Obrador in his regular morning news conference. A watered-down, final version of those rules was published hours before the decision to drop the Mexican case against the former general, in a sign that security cooperation between the neighboring countries will continue.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, General Salvador Cienfuegos, Henry Romero, Cienfuegos, Enrique Pena Nieto, ”, Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Joe Biden’s, Falko Ernst, El, ‘, ‘ El Padrino ’ Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Defense, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, Crisis, ‘ El, DEA, Eastern, of, United Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Cienfuegos, United States, Washington, Mexican, of New York

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