Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Marjorie Taylor Greene compares vaccine passports to gold star under Nazis
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday compared vaccine passports to the gold star that Jewish persons were forced to wear under the Nazi regime, sparking condemnation from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Democratic calls to censure her. Published May 25, 2021
Moderna says its COVID-19 shot works in kids as young as 12
Drugmaker Moderna said its COVID-19 vaccine staved off disease in trial participants aged 12 to 18, likely paving the way for an expanded arsenal of shots for adolescents by June. Published May 25, 2021
IOC member: Cancellation of Tokyo Summer Games ‘essentially off the table’
A member of the International Olympic Committee said canceling the Tokyo Summer Games is "essentially off the table" even as Japan battles a wave of COVID-19 cases in major cities and the State Department warns Americans not to travel to the host nation. Published May 25, 2021
Major airlines avoid Belarus after plane diversion
Major airlines are starting to avoid Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko diverted a commercial airliner from Lithuania to his capital of Minsk so he could detain an opposition journalist on board. Published May 25, 2021
Raman Pratasevich detainment, Ryanair flight ‘forced diversion’ condemned by Joe Biden
President Biden on Monday forcefully condemned the diversion of a private airliner to arrest a journalist foe of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and said he's directed his team to prepare 'appropriate options' to respond. Published May 24, 2021
Joe Biden releases $1 billion to prepare for hurricane season, doubling program amount
President Biden said the Federal Emergency Management Agency will release $1 billion to states ahead of a hurricane and wildfire season that's expected to produce over a dozen named storms. Published May 24, 2021
COVID-19 origin in doubt: Researchers at Wuhan lab not just sick in November 2019, but hospitalized
Researchers who worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China fell so ill with COVID-19-like symptoms in November 2019 they had to be hospitalized, according to a U.S. intelligence report that is sparking another look at the mysterious origins of the pathogen that upended the world. Published May 24, 2021
Ryanair CEO on Belarus plane diversion: ‘State-sponsored hijacking’
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary on Monday said Belarus' use of a bogus bomb threat to divert one of his carrier's commercial flights and arrest an opposition journalist amounted to "state-sponsored hijacking" as outrage continued to build across Europe and Western leaders vowed there would be swift consequences for authoritarian Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Published May 24, 2021
WHO chief: We must vaccinate 10% of the global population by September, 30% by December
The World Health Organization pushed member countries Monday to join a campaign to vaccinate 10% of the global population by September and 30% by December, dubbing the shortfall of COVID-19 shots in poorer places a "scandalous inequity" that is prolonging the pandemic. Published May 24, 2021
Biden sends Blinken to the Middle East to shore up ties with Israel, reconnect with Palestinians
President Biden said Monday he is sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Middle East to recommit the U.S. to Israel's security and rebuild ties with the Palestinian people and its leaders "after years of neglect." Published May 24, 2021
Biden awards ‘long-overdue’ Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr.
When the White House told retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. he would receive the Medal of Honor at the White House, the Korean War hero asked: "Why all the fuss?" Published May 21, 2021
Biden says big spending answers Irish leader’s question about whether U.S. can lead
President Biden, in his first major print interview, said Ireland's leader complained to him that America lost its ability to lead, which was a wake-up call for the president. Published May 21, 2021
Trafalgar poll finds waning confidence in Dr. Anthony Fauci; a quarter say COVID-19 pandemic is over
A quarter of Americans say the coronavirus pandemic is already over and confidence in Dr. Anthony Fauci, a prominent federal scientist, is declining among independents and other voters, according to a poll released Friday. Published May 21, 2021
White House, dating apps partner to promote COVID-19 vaccines
Looks may be important, but it's what's on the inside that counts -- especially if there are antibodies floating around in there. Published May 21, 2021
Japan approves Moderna, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines
Japan has approved COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca for use within its borders as it tries to jump-start a sluggish campaign and prepare for the Tokyo Olympics in a few weeks. Published May 21, 2021
White House on a Biden-Kim summit: Not at ‘top of agenda’
President Biden will meet face to face Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for high-profile talks, a press conference and even a medal ceremony. Published May 20, 2021
Trump pollster: Biden’s IRS expansion a prime GOP vote-getter for 2022
Top advisers in the Trump administration and the former president's campaign see President Biden's push to boost the power and scope of the IRS as a path back to Republican majorities in the House and Senate next year. Published May 20, 2021
Scientists in Malaysia find dog coronavirus in humans
Scientists swabbed patients in Malaysia with a test that detects a range of coronaviruses and found something unusual -- a significant share of them were infected with a dog virus. Published May 20, 2021
Battery maker SK Innovation, Ford announce joint venture
The Ford Motor Co. and South Korean battery maker SK Innovation announced a joint venture Thursday to boost the automaker's electric-vehicle production as President Biden pushes his green agenda and South Korean President Moon Jae-in tours Washington. Published May 20, 2021
FDA: Thawed Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines can be refrigerated for a month, up from 5 days
The Food and Drug Administration says vials of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech can be stored in a refrigerator for up to a month after they are thawed, easing delivery and handling. Published May 20, 2021
