25 years wiped out in 25 weeks: Pandemic sets the world back decades
By Carmen Paun 09/14/2020 11:00 PM EDT In only half a year, the coronavirus pandemic has wiped out decades of global development in everything from health to the economy. Progress has not only stopped, but has regressed in areas like getting people out of poverty and improving conditions for women and children around the world, […]
FAA extending airport slot usage exemptions through next spring
By Stephanie Beasley 09/11/2020 04:38 PM EDT The FAA will continue to exempt airlines from minimum slot usage requirements at several major U.S. airports through next year as air travel remains slumped during the coronavirus pandemic, per a Federal Register notice slated for publication Monday. The details: The FAA said it will extend waivers exempting airlines from […]
Inside Oxford’s vaccine saga: From wild hype to sobering reality
By Elizabeth Ralph 09/11/2020 04:00 AM EDT In April, Sarah Gilbert, the British scientist leading Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine effort, said she was 80 percent confident her team would be able to produce a successful vaccine by September. It was a remarkable statement—conspicuously confident—especially given the timing: Oxford’s vaccine had yet to be tested in a […]
The flip side of Trump’s eviction ban: Landlords face big crunch
By Katy O’Donnell 09/11/2020 06:07 PM EDT The White House’s move to ban evictions across the country during the coronavirus crisis is having an unintended side effect: It’s threatening the livelihood of millions of landlords. The sweeping order effectively requires landlords to subsidize distressed tenants’ housing through the end of the year or face criminal […]
Ag, trade officials field calls to curb Mexican produce imports
By Ryan McCrimmon 08/13/2020 01:28 PM EDT Florida lawmakers on Thursday stepped up their calls for the Trump administration to take trade actions against Mexico to stem seasonal produce imports that they say are crushing U.S. fruit and vegetable growers. During a virtual hearing with agriculture and trade officials, they argued that producers in the […]
New unemployment claims fall below 1 million for the first time in five months
By Rebecca Rainey 08/13/2020 08:53 AM EDT New unemployment claims fell last week to 963,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday, the first time in months the figure has been less than 1 million. An additional 488,622 laid-off workers filed for jobless aid under the new pandemic unemployment assistance program, created for those not traditionally eligible […]
DOJ announces largest terrorism-related cryptocurrency seizure
By Kellie Mejdrich 08/13/2020 01:08 PM EDT The Department of Justice on Thursday announced its largest seizure of cryptocurrency related to terrorism- financing campaigns. One of those campaigns involved a sham website called facemaskcenter.com that was funneling money to ISIS while falsely claiming to be selling face masks to protect against the coronavirus, federal officials charged. DOJ […]
Amtrak meets major PTC milestone
By Tanya Snyder 08/13/2020 02:30 PM EDT Amtrak has completed positive train control implementation on all the tracks it owns or controls, the railroad announced Thursday. What that means: PTC equipment is now installed and operable on all 550 Amtrak-owned locomotives, all 160 radio towers and all 898 route miles, and all required employees have completed training. […]
‘Reopen!’ refresh: Trump adds masks, CDC assist in plea for in-person school
By Nicole Gaudiano08/12/2020 08:28 PM EDT Updated: 08/12/2020 09:03 PM EDT President Donald Trump announced a plan Wednesday to send 125 million reusable masks to school districts throughout the country and deploy CDC teams to those that need help reopening for in-person learning. The president’s proposal, still short on public details, follows his continual plea […]
U.S. inks $1.5B deal for Moderna for 100M vaccine doses
By Zachary Brennan 08/11/2020 06:37 PM EDT The U.S. government is purchasing 100 million doses of Moderna’s experimental coronavirus vaccine for about $1.5 billion, the Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday evening. The deal gives the government an option to buy another 400 million doses, HHS said. The agency also said the vaccine […]
