Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Biden says Taiwan policy has not changed, one day after dust-up
President Biden on Tuesday said the U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" toward Taiwan remains intact, hoping to tamp down the furor over his assertion Monday that he would intervene militarily if China invaded the island. Published May 24, 2022
CDC: U.S. has 1 confirmed, 4 presumed cases of monkeypox
The U.S. is investigating four presumed cases of monkeypox in addition to the confirmed case out of Massachusetts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Published May 23, 2022
Pfizer: Children under 5 show strong immune response in three-shot, COVID-19 vaccine regimen
Drugmaker Pfizer on Monday said the third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine produced a strong immune response in children ages 6 months to under 5 years and should meet the criteria for emergency authorization. Published May 23, 2022
Florida officials report presumptive monkeypox case, third in U.S.
Officials in Broward County, Florida, are investigating a presumptive case of monkeypox, the first in the state amid unusual clusters of the virus outside of Africa. Published May 23, 2022
Military plane with 78K pounds of baby formula lands in Indiana
A military plane carrying 78,000 pounds of specialty infant formula landed Sunday in Indiana as part of President Biden's scramble to shore up a nationwide shortage. Published May 23, 2022
Biden says U.S. would use military to defend Taiwan if China invades
President Biden said Monday the U.S. would get involved militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, a blunt statement that went beyond the "strategic ambiguity" that previous presidents have employed in talking about the island nation that Beijing considers a breakaway province. Published May 23, 2022
VP Harris, Surgeon General Murthy sound alarm over health worker burnout
Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy are sounding the alarm Monday over health worker "burnout" because of systemic challenges in the sector and the pandemic's toll. Published May 23, 2022
Virus surges again, but the era of sweeping COVID-19 mandates may be over
COVID-19 is surging across the country and filling hospitals again, but leaders from coast to coast have bucked the return of mask mandates, signaling on-again, off-again rules are no longer politically tenable and nearing extinction. Published May 20, 2022
NYC reports a possible case of monkeypox amid strange clusters
New York City health officials said they are investigating a possible case of monkeypox as officials investigate clusters of unusual cases of the disease in North America and Europe. Published May 20, 2022
Elon Musk rejects flight attendant’s sexual harassment claim against him as ‘utterly untrue’
Elon Musk is describing claims he exposed himself to a flight attendant in 2016 as "utterly untrue." Published May 20, 2022
Group that targeted Rep. Madison Cawthorn to focus on Rep. Lauren Boebert
A group that posted a nude video of Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina ahead of his GOP primary loss this week said it will target another outspoken conservative Republican lawmaker, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Published May 20, 2022
U.S. faces elevated risk of power blackouts this summer, say regulators
Extreme heat and drought could tax the power grid and lead to blackouts this summer, federal officials are warning. Published May 20, 2022
Biden kicks off Asia trip with Samsung tour in South Korea to solidify trade ties
President Biden pledged Friday to bring the U.S.-South Korea relationship to "greater heights" as he kicked off an East Asia swing at a semiconductor manufacturer owned by Samsung, a company investing billions in the U.S. Published May 20, 2022
Harris warns of erosion of women’s rights in U.S. should Supreme Court overturn Roe
Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday decried what she says would be a regression of women's rights in the U.S. should the Supreme Court reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision in a virtual meeting with abortion providers. Published May 19, 2022
Monkeypox unlikely to become COVID-like crisis: experts
Monkeypox is a serious virus that is popping up in unusual places, but public health experts don't expect another deadly plague layered on top of the coronavirus, which spreads far more easily. Published May 19, 2022
Majority of Americans think a recession is coming, says poll
An overwhelming majority of Americans think the country is heading into a recession, and four in five say the economy is in poor or "not so good" shape, according to a new poll. Published May 19, 2022
Nearly half of Biden’s Twitter followers are fake, audit shows
Nearly half of President Biden's 22.2 million followers on Twitter are fake, according to a new audit. Published May 19, 2022
V.P. Harris to meet virtually with abortion providers amid Supreme Court furor
Vice President Kamala Harris will meet virtually with abortion providers Thursday as the Supreme Court finalizes an opinion that could overturn the broad right to the procedure established by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Published May 19, 2022
Russian leaders punished over early failings in Ukraine invasion, says U.K. intelligence
Russia is firing senior commanders for their stumbles in the early stages of the Ukraine invasion, and a "culture of cover-ups" will likely strain Moscow's forces in the days ahead, British intelligence officials said Thursday. Published May 19, 2022
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra tests positive for COVID-19 while in Germany
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra tested positive for COVID-19 while in Germany to meet with other Group of Seven health ministers, his agency said Wednesday. Published May 18, 2022
