FDA sets aside June for potential decisions on vaccines for the youngest Americans
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday laid out a tentative timetable for deciding whether to authorize a coronavirus vaccine for America’s youngest children, announcing that June 8 is the earliest date that it will present data to its outside advisers for a recommendation. The nation’s 18 million children younger than 5 are the only group not yet eligible for vaccination against the coronavirus. The FDA set aside three days for its outside advisory committee to consider the pediatric vaccine applications from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, and another day to debate and presumably vote on proposals to update existing vaccines so they work better against a range of coronavirus variants.
National security surveillance on US soil dropped again in 2021, report says
Court-approved national security surveillance on domestic soil fell for the third straight year in 2021. There were 376 targets of court-approved wiretaps and physical search orders under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2021, according to declassified data in a new report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The report estimated that of those, about 309 were foreigners on domestic soil, and about 67 were U.S. citizens, U.S. companies or lawful permanent residents. The total number of targets was the lowest yet in the nine years that the office has released annual reports disclosing figures about the government’s use of national security surveillance powers.
British terrorist receives life sentence for role in Americans’ deaths
A federal judge Friday sentenced a British terrorist to life in prison for his central role in the kidnapping, torture and killing of Western hostages who were held by the Islamic State group in Syria. Alexanda Kotey, 38, was part of an Islamic State cell of Britons called the Beatles, a nickname given by their victims because of their accents. Kotey pleaded guilty last year, admitting he was directly involved in the detention and hostage-taking in 2012 and 2013 of Americans James Foley, Kayla Mueller, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig. Foley and Sotloff were beheaded in propaganda videos that stunned the world.
Solar industry ‘frozen’ as Biden administration investigates China
Around the country, solar companies are delaying projects, scrambling for supplies, shutting down construction sites and warning that tens of billions of dollars — and tens of thousands of jobs — are at risk. The tumult is the result of a decision by the Commerce Department to investigate whether Chinese companies are circumventing U.S. tariffs by moving components for solar panels through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. These four countries provide 82% of the most popular type of solar modules used in the United States. In a matter of weeks, 318 solar projects in the United States have been canceled or delayed, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Pressure mounts on Cawthorn as scandals pile up
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., is under mounting pressure from both parties to end his short career in Congress. In rapid succession, Cawthorn, who entered Congress as a rising star of the party’s far right, has been accused of an inappropriate relationship with a male aide, insider trading and falsely suggesting that his Republican colleagues routinely throw cocaine-fueled orgies. This week, he was detained at an airport, where police said he tried to bring a loaded handgun onto an airplane, the second time he has attempted that. That came just days after pictures surfaced of him wearing women’s lingerie as part of a cruise ship game.
Europe ratchets up preparation for Russian oil embargo next week
Western support of Ukraine hardened Friday as the European Union was poised to approve an embargo on Russian oil, amid fresh assessments that the Russian military’s eastern offensive was faltering, hampered by logistical issues and stiff Ukrainian resistance. The oil embargo, which would be phased in over a period of some months, is expected to be approved by EU ambassadors next week. Word of the European oil embargo came amid a surge of activity to provide Ukraine with more weapons and support, while shoring up NATO’s defenses, as the Kremlin and Western allies seemed to gird for a drawn-out struggle that risked spilling over Ukraine’s borders.
Millions of South Koreans could soon get younger (on paper)
South Korea counts people’s ages three ways, often adding a year or two to the international standard. This can present situations ripe for confusion, since age determines roles in the social hierarchy and is important in legal milestones such as when one has the right to drink or vote. But soon, nearly 52 million South Koreans may shave up to two years off their ages (if only on paper), if President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol keeps a campaign promise to scrap the unique system. On April 11, an official with Yoon’s transition team announced plans to proceed with the change. Yoon hopes to do so by making a change to civil code.
Death of American fighting for Ukraine confirmed by his family
A former Marine infantryman who left Kentucky to defend Ukraine in March was killed this week while fighting alongside the Ukrainian military, according to his uncle. He is believed to be the first American killed in the fighting. Willy Joseph Cancel Jr., 22, lived in Kentucky and worked as a correctional officer before his death, the uncle, Christopher Cancel, said Friday. The uncle said that someone who had been fighting alongside the younger Cancel had called his father and said that he had left for a nighttime patrol Sunday, and his unit was overrun by Russian troops.
By wire sources