Focus Washington by Focus Washington

EU’s Breton Says Pfizer Can Help Offset AstraZeneca Vaccine Delays

March 14, 2021 Focus Washington

The European Union will be able to stick to its vaccination targets this quarter despite AstraZeneca delivery delays as Pfizer is producing faster than planned, EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton said on Saturday, Reuters writes. […]

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Fauci Hopes Trump Will Push His Supporters to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

March 14, 2021 Focus Washington

Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Sunday he hopes former President Donald Trump will push his supporters to get the COVID-19 vaccine and emphasized that pandemic-related restrictions should not be lifted […]

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U.S. Support Key to Post-Brexit Stability

March 14, 2021 Focus Washington

Ireland is counting on U.S. support to help maintain the political stability of Northern Ireland as Britain withdraws from the European Union, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Sunday ahead of a virtual summit with […]

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Joe Biden's social spending bill approved by House Dems

Biden Speech Draws More Broadcast Viewers Than Trump’s First TV Address

March 13, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden’s prime-time address on the fight against COVID-19 attracted more broadcast television viewers on Thursday than former President Donald Trump’s first speech to the nation, according to preliminary ratings data, Reuters reported. Roughly […]

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Bitcoin Hits Almost $60,000 in Record High

March 13, 2021 Focus Washington

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, on Saturday reached a record high, trading up to $59,755, Reuters writes. Bitcoin is up more than 2% from its previous year high of $58,354.14 on Feb. 21. Bitcoin’s price […]

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The footage showing Derek Chauvin kneeling on the restrained Floyd's neck for over eight minutes while the officers were making the arrest sparked worldwide anger and the greatest popular uprising witnessed in the United States in decades.

George Floyd’s Family Receives $27 Million Settlement From Minneapolis Over His Death

March 13, 2021 Focus Washington

The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit by the family of George Floyd over his death in police custody, a case that stirred national protests over racial […]

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New York’s Two Senators Join Mounting Calls for Governor Cuomo to Resign

March 13, 2021 Focus Washington

New York’s two U.S. senators joined other leading Democrats in urging New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign on Friday after a seventh woman came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct, Reuters reported. Chuck […]

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U.S., India, Japan and Australia Counter China with Billion-Dose Vaccine Pact

March 13, 2021 Focus Washington

The United States and three of its closest Indo-Pacific partners committed to supplying up to a billion coronavirus vaccine doses across Asia by the end of 2022 at a summit on Friday carefully choreographed to […]

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AP: Defying Rules, Anti-Vaccine Accounts Thrive on Social Media

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

With vaccination against COVID-19 in full swing, social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter say they’ve stepped up their fight against misinformation that aims to undermine trust in the vaccines. But problems abound, The Associated […]

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Novavax Vaccine 96% Effective Against Original Coronavirus, 86% vs British Variant in UK Trial

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine was 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original version of the coronavirus in a late-stage trial conducted in the United Kingdom, the company said on Thursday, moving it a step […]

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New York Democrats Start to Discuss Running for Governor as Cuomo Resists Calls to Resign

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Several New York Democrats are considering running for governor as Andrew Cuomo comes under mounting pressure from within his own party to resign after several women accused him of sexual harassment, CNBC informed. New York […]

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The ports and waterways funding comes from President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, which was signed into law by Congress last year

In China Strategy, Biden to Meet with Leaders of Australia, India, Japan

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden will meet on Friday with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan, a group central to his efforts to counter China’s growing military and economic power, Reuters informed. The White House has […]

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AstraZeneca Further Cuts EU Vaccine Supply Target to 30 Million

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

AstraZeneca cut its supply forecast of COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the first quarter to about 30 million doses, a third of its contractual obligations and a 25% drop from pledges made last […]

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Facebook, Google Fight Bill That Would Help U.S. News Industry

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Lobbyists for Facebook and Google threw their weight against new U.S. legislation that seeks to aid struggling news publishers by allowing them to negotiate collectively against the tech companies over revenue sharing and other deals, […]

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Kremlin Critic Navalny Moved from Jail, Whereabouts Unknown

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been moved from a jail in Russia’s Vladimir region and his whereabouts are currently unknown, according to a post on Friday on Navalny’s Twitter account, citing his lawyers, Reuters reported. […]

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U.S. House Republicans May Follow Democrats in Rebooting Shamed ‘Earmarks’

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

U.S. House Republicans are weighing whether to join Democrats in getting back into “earmarks” – the practice of loading spending bills with legislators’ pet projects – and a decision is expected this week, two sources […]

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Global Stocks, Oil Edge Away from Highs as Stimulus Rally Ebbs

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Global shares were flat on Friday but within sight of a record high while oil edged lower as benchmark debt yields climbed, helping to curb the latest stimulus-driven rally, Reuters informed. Gains in Asian stock […]

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Biden: All U.S. Adults to Be Eligible for Vaccines by May, Some Normalcy Coming by Summer

March 12, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden told U.S. states on Thursday to make all adults eligible for a coronavirus vaccine by May 1 and urged Americans to stay vigilant or face more restrictions, hours after he signed a […]

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GOP Praises Trump after He Urges Republican Donors to Send Money Directly to Him

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

The leaders of three top Republican Party committees praised former President Donald Trump on Wednesday for pledging his support to them, even as Trump is actively urging GOP donors to send their money directly to […]

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US and China will meet for the first time at a high level since Russia's attack on Ukraine as Biden tries to get Beijing's help with the war.

Biden Administration Will Hold Its First High-Level Meeting with Chinese Officials in Alaska Next Week

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

For the first time since President Joe Biden took office, senior U.S. officials will hold high-level, in-person talks with Chinese representatives next week in Alaska, CNBC reported. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security […]

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Biden to Announce the ‘Next Phase’ of the U.S. COVID Response Thursday

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden said he will announce the “next phase” of the U.S. Covid-19 response during his prime-time address to Americans on Thursday, CNBC informed. “Tomorrow night, I’m going on prime time to address the […]

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China Confirms Overhaul of Hong Kong Politics, Squeezing Democratic Opposition

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

China’s parliament approved on Thursday a draft decision to change Hong Kong’s electoral system, further reducing democratic representation in the city’s institutions and introducing a mechanism to vet politicians’ loyalty to Beijing, Reuters reported. The […]

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Former U.S. Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Carter and First Ladies Promote Vaccine in New Advertisements

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

Former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter will star in two new public service announcements (PSA) for the coronavirus vaccine alongside former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary […]

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South Korea Extends Use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine to People Aged 65 and Over

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

South Korea will authorise the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for people aged 65 years and older, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Thursday, a move that will allow the country to ramp up its […]

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Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Bill Wins Final Approval in House

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval on Wednesday to one of the largest economic stimulus measures in American history, a sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that gives President Joe Biden his first […]

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U.S. Senate Republican Leader McConnell Criticizes Capitol Security as Overreaction

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday that he is “extremely uncomfortable” with the continued high level of security at the U.S. Capitol, saying there are currently no serious threats against Congress, Reuters writes. […]

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Republican Ranks on Defense as Retirements Questions their Majority

March 11, 2021 Focus Washington

The Senate majority for Republicans in 2022 is being seriously challenged by a wave of retirements, as on Monday Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.) became the fifth GOP senator to announce that he will not seek […]

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Polyakov’s Firefly Aerospace Set for Growth with Latest Announcements

March 10, 2021 Focus Washington

Last month, NASA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver a set of 10 research payloads to the moon in 2023, the latest award in its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, worth $93.3 million. The 10 payloads include science experiments […]

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Gupta Apologizes for Harsh Rhetoric

March 10, 2021 Focus Washington

Vanita Gupta, President Biden’s nominee for the number three position in the Department of Justice, apologized for her past “harsh rhetoric” on Tuesday, as House Republicans gave her a cold reception over her legal work […]

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Trump Tells Donors to Give Money to Him, Not Republicans ‘in Name Only’

March 10, 2021 Focus Washington

Former President Donald Trump is competing with the GOP’s fundraising operation and lashing out at its members, further complicating his status as a Republican Party leader, CNBC reported. “No more money for RINOs,” Trump said […]

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