President Biden Joe Biden The West needs a more collaborative approach to Taiwan Abbott's medical advisers were not all consulted before he lifted Texas mask mandate House approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act MORE dramatically changed expectations on the supply of vaccines and the trajectory of the country’s comeback from the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday in announcing there will be enough coronavirus vaccines for all American adults by the end of May. On Wednesday, government officials described a process that seemed to surprise them for how swiftly it came together. The previous target for producing that much vaccine had been July. They said it wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly but said it was guided by facts and fast-moving events. ADVERTISEMENT “We are not in a habit of overpromising, and therefore even as of several weeks ago, before such time as the approval of Johnson & Johnson, the president was talking about moving up the … [Read more...] about Team Biden surprises with positive vaccine news
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Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel faced harassment accusation while a candidate for Colorado’s high court
A harassment accusation made nearly eight years ago against Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel, then a judge on the state Court of Appeals, by a newly hired law clerk was settled quickly and quietly, according to two people with knowledge of the agreement, essentially ensuring it would not sully his shot at the high court. To safeguard that secrecy, the Colorado Judicial Department had the female appellate law clerk who made the accusation in September 2013 – then a 34-year-old who was a year out of an Ivy League law school – sign a non-disclosure agreement that kept her on the payroll for a year in return for her promise not to sue, the sources confirmed for The Denver Post. The woman claimed the judge and a male law clerk in the court created an uncomfortable work environment for her shortly after her arrival in August 2013, the sources said. In an email to The Post, Gabriel said that “any suggestion that I engaged in any form of harassment of anyone at any time is … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel faced harassment accusation while a candidate for Colorado’s high court
Laos Braces for Promise, Peril of China’s High-Speed Railway
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - After five years of hard work boring dozens of tunnels and building even more bridges to lay more than 400 kilometers of train track, China’s high-speed railway through Laos is on course to launch within the year. State media in China and Laos say service could begin by December. For sprawling China, analysts say the line promises to inject new growth into the country’s backward underbelly by plugging it into some of Southeast Asia’s largest markets and ports. As for tiny Laos, they add, it could boost a heavily resource-reliant economy with more trade, tourists and industry — if at the cost of crippling debt and the growing sway of its giant neighbor. The view from China Part of Beijing’s sweeping Belt and Road Initiative, the $5.9 billion project will connect China’s landlocked Yunnan province to northeast Thailand through northern Laos. It is the first leg of a serpentine line Beijing hopes will one day reach to bustling Singapore via Thailand … [Read more...] about Laos Braces for Promise, Peril of China’s High-Speed Railway
US calls for release of journalists held in Myanmar
The U.S. on Wednesday pressed Myanmar's military to release journalists who were arrested there while covering the country’s coup and subsequent protests against the takeover. An Associated Press journalist and five other members of the foreign media were detained in Myanmar on Wednesday. The arrests came on the deadliest day of the protests against the military’s rule when at least 38 people were reported killed. “We are appalled and revulsed to see the horrific violence perpetrated against the people of Burma for their peaceful calls to restore civilian governance. We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people and to promote accountability for the military’s actions that have led to the ... loss of life of so many people in Burma,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press conference. ADVERTISEMENT “We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on and arrests of journalists. … [Read more...] about US calls for release of journalists held in Myanmar
The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill
Presented by Facebook Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Thursday! 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. Senate Democrats on Wednesday took a scalpel to President Biden Joe Biden The West needs a more collaborative approach to Taiwan Abbott's medical advisers were not all consulted before he lifted Texas mask mandate House approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act MORE ’s $1.9 trillion relief bill hoping to surgically ensure enough support from centrists this week to clear the measure, … [Read more...] about The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill