In State of the Union, Biden will focus on economy and global response to Russia
President Joe Biden will use his State of the Union address Tuesday to claim credit for a robust economy and a unified global response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even as he acknowledges the pain of inflation and the struggle between “democracy and autocracy” around the world, administration officials said Monday. The speech was originally meant to focus primarily on the president’s domestic agenda, using the rare prime-time platform as a way to jump-start his stalled efforts to pass far-reaching social spending legislation. But the war in Europe has forced the White House to ensure that Biden’s address “reflects a moment in time,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.
Republicans block abortion rights measure in Senate
Republicans on Monday blocked the Senate from taking up sweeping abortion rights legislation as Democrats sought to put lawmakers on the record on the issue in advance of the midterm elections and a coming Supreme Court ruling on access to abortion. Democrats fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to bring the Women’s Health Protection Act to the floor for consideration after the House in September passed it on a narrow party-line vote. One Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, joined all Republicans in opposition to beginning debate on the measure. The outcome was anticipated, but Democrats were determined to hold the vote as both parties draw battle lines.
Supreme Court tackles EPA’s power to regulate emissions
Members of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority Monday questioned the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants, suggesting that the justices could deal a blow to the Biden administration’s efforts to address climate change. The questioning during the argument was mostly technical, and several conservative justices did not tip their hands. But those who did sounded skeptical that Congress had meant to give the agency what they said was vast power to set national economic policy. Climate change was mentioned only briefly and to buttress the point that an executive agency should not be allowed to tackle so large an issue without express congressional authorization.
Pfizer shot is far less effective in ages 5-11 than in older kids
The coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech is much less effective in preventing infection in children ages 5 to 11 than in older adolescents or adults, according to a large new set of data collected by health officials in New York state — a finding that has deep ramifications for these children and their parents. The Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID shot authorized for that age group in the United States. It still prevents severe illness in the children but offers virtually no protection against infection, even within a month after full immunization, the data, which were collected during the omicron surge, suggest.
Time is running out to fix climate, report says
The dangers of climate change are mounting so rapidly that they could soon overwhelm the ability of both nature and humanity to adapt, creating a harrowing future in which floods, fires and famine displace millions, species disappear and the planet is irreversibly damaged, a major new scientific report has concluded. The report released Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of experts convened by the United Nations, is the most detailed look yet at the threats posed by global warming. It concludes that nations aren’t doing nearly enough to protect cities, farms and coastlines as the planet keeps heating up.
Chinese company removed as operator of cobalt mine in Congo
A court in Congo has sidelined the Chinese owner of one of the world’s largest copper and cobalt mines, a major victory for the Congolese government as it seeks to become a bigger player in the global clean energy revolution. The ruling, which removes Chinese leadership of the mine for at least six months, stems from a dispute over billions of dollars in payments the Congolese government says it is owed by the Chinese owner, China Molybdenum. The Tenke Fungurume mine figures prominently in the Chinese government’s effort to dominate major supply chains for minerals and metals needed in the production of batteries for electric vehicles.
Trump appeals ruling forcing him to testify in NY probe
Former President Donald Trump has appealed a judge’s decision requiring he answer questions under oath in New York state’s civil investigation into his business practices — a widely expected move that’s likely to prolong the fight over his testimony by months. Lawyers for Trump and his two eldest children filed papers on Monday with the appellate division of the state’s trial court, seeking to overturn Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 17 ruling. They argue ordering the Trumps to testify violates their constitutional rights because their answers could be used in a parallel criminal investigation.
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