Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Japan’s PM Yoshihide Suga: ‘I’ve never put the Olympics first’
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday he never put the Summer Games above the health of the population and insisted the International Olympic Committee has the final say over whether the Tokyo event proceeds. Published May 10, 2021
U.K. set to ease COVID-19 lockdown measures
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom on Monday as his government downgrades the risk of transmission. Published May 10, 2021
COVID-19 crisis worsens in Nepal; hospitals reject new patients
The COVID-19 crisis in India is overshadowing a mounting disaster in neighboring Nepal, where a similar surge caused multiple hospitals in the capital of Kathmandu to reject new patients. Published May 10, 2021
Americans eyeing ‘revenge travel’ hit with high gas prices, shifting rules
Americans eager to travel are running into rising gas prices, ever-shifting travel rules and a shortage of foreign workers who fill seasonal jobs at U.S. parks and resorts. Published May 9, 2021
Trump hails FEC decision to drop campaign-finance probe
Former President Donald Trump thanked the Federal Elections Commission on Friday for dropping a "phony" probe into his 2016 campaign. Published May 7, 2021
200K sign petition to cancel Tokyo Games, say Olympics could be ‘super-spreader’ event
An online petition to cancel the Summer Games in Tokyo received more than 200,000 signatures in two days, underscoring angst around plans to hold a global event in the middle of a pandemic. Published May 7, 2021
Pfizer and BioNTech seek full approval of COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer and BioNTech on Friday started to apply for full approval of their COVID-19 vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration. Published May 7, 2021
U.S. employers added just 266K jobs in April as hiring slows; debate over incentives heats up
The U.S. added only 266,000 jobs in April, the government said Friday, far below the 1 million that economists predicted amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and gradual recovery from the pandemic. Published May 7, 2021
Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta mayor, not seeking reelection
Keisha Lance Bottoms late Thursday said she won't seek a second term as Atlanta's mayor, a major shock after the Democrat rose to prominence during racial-justice protests last year and made the short-list of potential running mates for President Biden. Published May 6, 2021
HHS reports 940K new Obamacare customers in a ‘special’ enrollment period
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Thursday that 940,000 people have selected health coverage on the main Obamacare sign-up website since the start of a special enrollment period in February. Published May 6, 2021
Pfizer, IOC strike vaccine deal for Summer Games in Tokyo
Olympics organizers struck a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday that will offer a COVID-19 vaccine to athletes before they head to the Summer Games in Tokyo. Published May 6, 2021
Tom Carper, John Cornyn: U.S. must reengage with Asian trade partners
The Biden administration must reengage in the Asia-Pacific region by striking multilateral trade deals, a bipartisan group of lawmakers said Thursday, arguing U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in January 2017 was "misguided" and emboldened China. Published May 6, 2021
Epic Stuffed Earnings: Papa John’s reports sustained demand as pandemic wanes
Papa John's pizza beat Wall Street expectations for the first quarter Thursday even though it is starting to face increased competition from reopened restaurants. Published May 6, 2021
Brian Higgins of N.Y.: Give a $5K tax credit to health workers
Rep. Brian Higgins of New York announced a bill Thursday that provides a $5,000 tax credit to frontline health workers after many of them risked their personal safety to navigate the U.S. through the COVID-19 pandemic. Published May 6, 2021
EU open to COVID-19 vaccine waiver after Biden move
The European Union said Thursday it is ready to consider waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines after President Biden threw his support behind the idea. Published May 6, 2021
Moderna: COVID-19 vaccine 96% effective in kids ages 12 to 17
Drugmaker Moderna said Thursday its COVID-19 vaccine was 96% effective in a study involving adolescents ages 12 to 17. Published May 6, 2021
Google now expects 20% of workers to stay home
Tech giant Google said it now expects roughly 20% of its employees to keep working from home after a new policy goes into effect in September. Published May 6, 2021
Yankees, Mets: Get your COVID-19 vaccine at the ballpark and get a free ticket
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said Yankee Stadium and Citi Field will begin to offer normal seating for fully vaccinated fans and give a free ticket to people who get a COVID-19 shot at the ballparks' vaccination sites. Published May 5, 2021
White House on McConnell’s opposition: ‘100% of our focus is on delivering relief’
The White House delivered a soft rebuke to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday after the Kentucky Republican said he is completely focused on "stopping" the Biden administration. Published May 5, 2021
Dr. Fauci: FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine for ages 12-15 likely imminent
Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Wednesday for emergency use in children ages 12 to 15 and the U.S. should be right behind it, bolstering immunity to COVID-19 and making it easier for schools to reopen. Published May 5, 2021
