McCarthy opens impeachment inquiry into Biden; Google’s antitrust trial, and more

This is The World in Brief from the Economist. Our Top Stories Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Speaker of America's House of Representatives, directed Republican-led House Committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Mr. McCarthy, bowing to pressure from hardliners in his party, said the inquiry would focus on, quote, allegations of abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption into Mr. Biden. The Republicans have attempted to tie some of Mr. Biden's activities during his time as Vice President to the questionable business practices of his son, Hunter Biden. The White House says there is no basis for an investigation. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, arrived in Russia by train to meet with President Vladimir Putin according to the Kremlin and a video uploaded to Telegram. Republican officials say the two leaders will likely discuss the provision of weapons by North Korea to aid Russia's war in Ukraine. Such transfers would violate UN Security Council resolutions. America's Department of Justice began its case against Google in a major antitrust trial. The case centers on a deal which makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices. In his opening statement Kenneth Dinser, the lead attorney for the DOJ, argued that Google has, quote, illegally maintained a monopoly for more than a decade. A ruling is expected next year. All 15 of Israel's Supreme Court judges convened for the first time ever to hear arguments on an amendment to a law limiting the power of courts to overturn government decisions on the basis of reasonableness. The amendment is part of a controversial legal reform package by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister. A ruling could take months. The supplemental child poverty measure in America more than doubled from 5.2 percent in 2021 to 12.4 percent in 2022, according to a new report from the Census Bureau. Media and household income after taxes also fell by 8.8 percent last year. The Bureau attributes the stark numbers to the expiration of pandemic-era tax relief policies, which it says has impacted poorer households the most. In Eastern Libya, some 10,000 people have been reported missing after Storm Daniel caused severe flooding and burst dams in the region according to the Red Cross. The death toll in Derna is already over 2000, but officials expected to rise about a quarter of the city has reportedly been completely wiped out. Bernard Looney resigned as the chief executive of BP with, quote, immediate effect the company announced. He admitted to not being, quote, fully transparent in disclosing alleged personal relationships with colleagues. Mr. Looney, who had ambitious plans for the British oil major when he became its boss in 2020, will be replaced in the interim by Murray Okenklaus, the firm CFO. And figure of the day, 35 million tons, the amount of green metal required each year if the world is to be carbon neutral in 2050.