Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
China’s population growth slowest in decades; aging workforce complicates Xi’s economic dream
China's population is barely growing, census data released Tuesday show, complicating the Asian power's ambitions and plans for economic growth. Published May 11, 2021
Joe Biden: 1M signups during Obamacare special enrollment period
President Biden on Tuesday said that 1 million Americans have selected a health plan since he reopened the main Obamacare website three months ago. Published May 11, 2021
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine expanded to children age 12 and above
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized the first coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in children ages 12 to 15, expanding access to the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Published May 10, 2021
Biden, Eastern European allies discuss regional threats, democracy in ‘Bucharest Nine’ summit
President Biden promoted democracy and the need to deter "strategic competitors" during a virtual summit Monday with the Central and Eastern European allies who make up the "Bucharest Nine," the White House said. Published May 10, 2021
Unemployment benefits not ‘major driver’ of poor jobs report: White House
The White House said Monday it does not believe generous unemployment insurance is keeping people out of the workforce and that factors such as a lack of child care, a desire for better wages and lingering fears of the virus are bigger factors. Published May 10, 2021
New York offers free rides at railway coronavirus vaccine sites
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said people who get a COVID-19 vaccine at one of eight subway and rail stations will get free rides in return. Published May 10, 2021
Pfizer partner BioNTech is exploring a variant-specific vaccine strategy
German company BioNTech told investors Monday there is "no evidence" it must change the vaccine it developed with Pfizer to cope with coronavirus variants that are pinging around the globe, but it is exploring contingency plans with U.S. regulators anyway. Published May 10, 2021
South Korea’s Moon Jae-in: COVID-19 vaccine will reach all eligible persons by September
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday he expects to vaccinate 13 million persons in the first half of the year and get at least one dose into all eligible persons by the end of September, faster than an original goal of November. Published May 10, 2021
Chipotle announces $15 per hour average wage, hoping to entice workers
Chipotle restaurants said Monday it will offer an average hourly wage of $15 and employee-referral bonuses by the end of June as it seeks to hire 20,000 people amid a tight labor market. Published May 10, 2021
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
