Tom Howell Jr.

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."

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

May 20, 2021

Biden to award Medal of Honor to Korean War hero

President Biden will award the Medal of Honor on Friday to retired Army Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. for repeatedly risking enemy fire and refusing evacuation despite grievous injuries during a November 1950 mission in the Korean War.

May 19, 2021

Emergent BioSolutions CEO: We take ‘full responsibility’ for vaccine mishap

Emergent BioSolutions executives said Wednesday they accept full responsibility for spoiling millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses at a Baltimore plant and pledged to fix problems with "diligence" and "urgency" amid the pandemic.

May 19, 2021

WH: Joe Biden tells Benjamin Netanyahu he expects immediate de-escalation to violence

President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he wants to see a "significant de-escalation" in violence Wednesday that paves the way to a cease-fire as Israel responds to attacks from Palestinian militants in Hamas with airstrikes on Gaza.

May 19, 2021

State media: Beijing bashes U.S. call for 2022 Winter Games boycott as a smear

Beijing slammed U.S. calls for a diplomatic boycott of its 2022 Winter Games as a smear that will fall short, according to state media.

May 19, 2021

EU moves to open its borders to vaccinated tourists

The European Union agreed Wednesday to open its borders to vaccinated travelers as it looks to fuel tourism and national economies after a brutal yearlong freeze.

May 19, 2021

India hits grim record with 4,529 COVID-19 deaths in single day

India's health ministry reported 4,529 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, a single-day record for any country since the pandemic began.

May 19, 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s meeting with Biden in U.S. to center on vaccines, North Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in departed Wednesday for a White House summit with President Biden and other U.S. stops as he looks to jumpstart COVID-19 vaccine production and North Korean peace talks.

May 19, 2021

Nancy Pelosi calls for ‘diplomatic boycott’ of Beijing Games

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday called for a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Games if the International Olympics Committee decides to let the event proceed amid human-rights abuses in Xinjiang and elsewhere.

May 18, 2021

Biden official pleads with graduates, young people to get vaccinated

The Biden administration's pleas for young people to get vaccinated took a personal turn Tuesday as top COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt revealed his teenage son is still experiencing symptoms after he contracted the virus last fall.

May 18, 2021