Helping hands for paws

London (CNN Business) A war of words between the European Union and AstraZeneca escalated on Wednesday as the two sides argued in public over coronavirus vaccine delays that threaten the bloc's fragile recovery from the pandemic . The dispute began on Monday when EU officials said they had been told by AstraZeneca ( AZN ) that the company intended to supply "considerably fewer" doses in the coming weeks than had been agreed because of production problems. The European Commission has ordered 400 million doses on behalf of EU member states and is poised to start rolling them out across the bloc once the vaccine is approved, possibly this week. "Pharmaceutical companies and vaccine developers have moral, societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told reporters on Wednesday. "The view that the company is not obliged to deliver [vaccines] ... is neither correct nor acceptable." "We are in a … [Read more...] about EU and AstraZeneca fight over vaccine delays while death toll mounts

Presented by Facebook Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Friday! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe! Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 513,091; Tuesday, 514,657; Wednesday, 516,608; Thursday, 518,453; Friday, 520,356. Senate Democrats voted by the narrowest margin on Thursday to take up a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill, teeing off what's expected to be a sprint through the weekend to help millions of struggling Americans. President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw … [Read more...] about The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote

Nigerian soldiers reportedly shot at least three people on Wednesday at a Nigerian Army handover ceremony to return 277 schoolgirls recently freed by their Jihadi kidnappers to their parents in Zamfara state. Parents at the ceremony reportedly grew frustrated at how long the event was taking and began throwing stones at Nigerian government officials organizing the handover. Nigerian security forces responded to the stoning by opening fire into the crowd of parents, injuring at least three people. It remains unclear if there were any deaths related to the incident. “Angered by officials’ insistence on a formal handover before parents could leave with their children, mobs began throwing stones at officials outside the school in the remote village of Jangebe when the girls were returned,” Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on March 3. “One person was shot in the stomach when security personnel opened fire and was carried away by others in the crowd,” Jangebe resident Bello … [Read more...] about Nigerian Army Opens Fire on Freed Jihadis’ Hostages and Family

BOSTON (CBS) – A local tween is on a mission to help students who are struggling with mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. Jay’dha Rackard led her first rally when she was just 10 years old, protesting a persisting problem on her school’s playground: used needles. READ MORE: 'The Whole Front Exploded,' 2 Hurt As Car Crashes Into Boston Home “People were getting pricked, kindergarteners, so it just wasn’t safe for me to go to school,” said Jay’dha, who is now 12. She called for increased safety measures at her school in Boston’s South End and started shining a light on the root of the problem: the school’s proximity to the so-called Methadone Mile. “That’s when I started speaking up for people saying they needed this health care and needed just help to make them feel better.” Jay’dha brought her concerns to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and started collecting and donating clothes, deodorant and toothbrushes to those struggling on the streets. She even spent this past … [Read more...] about 12-Year-Old Creates Self-Care Workshop For Students Struggling During Pandemic

close Video Taxpayers could foot the bill for homeless staying in San Francisco hotels President Biden orders to increase federal assistance set at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to 100 percent; San Francisco resident Richie Greenberg says taxpayers should be outraged. San Francisco has charged taxpayers $16.1 million to shelter more than 300 people experiencing homelessness in the city , according to reports. The 262 tents used, which with services and food cost taxpayers about $61,000 apiece, are set up in six public lots called "Safe Sleeping Villages," where officials also offer food and other services such as bathrooms and 24-hour security to the city's homeless, the San Fransisco Chronicle reported Thursday. San Fransisco Mayor London Breed announced the city's first Safe Sleeping Village in series of tweets on May 15, 2020. "During normal times, two of the main ways we help people out of homelessness are shelter placements … [Read more...] about San Francisco’s homeless cost taxpayers $16.1M