Were you too caught up in school and other activities last week to pay attention to the news? Do you want to be informed about current events? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you missed last week.
1. Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine is approved
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot Covid vaccine for emergency use. The rollout of millions of doses could reach Americans as early as next week. This announcement has arrived at a critical moment as the steep decline in Covid cases has plateaued, and many Americans are on waiting lists for shots. Johnson & Johnson has pledged to provide the United States with 100 million doses by the end of June. When combined with the 600 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines scheduled to arrive by the end of July, there will be more than enough shots to cover American adults. Although many are excited about a third vaccine, others perceive this newly approved shot as an inferior option since its efficacy rate is lower than others. Dr. Anthony Fauci advises people not to focus so much on the numbers, as a vaccine is still a vaccine.
2. 2024 Republican prospects seek breakout moments at CPAC
A slew of ambitious Republicans eyeing bids for the party’s 2024 nomination used the two days ahead of Trump’s appearance at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to begin staking their own claims as the eventual leaders of the movement built around former President Trump. This year’s CPAC has offered a window into a GOP primary dominated by a new Republcan Party built around the grievances that animated Trump’s campaigns and his presidency. Speakers embraced lies about the 2020 election being rigged and built this year’s event around the theme of “liberal cancel culture” in the wake of Trump being banned from social media platforms.
3. Myanmar’s UN ambassador fired after anti-coup speech
Myanmar’s military junta fired the country’s United Nations ambassador after he made an impassioned plea at the General Assembly for international action to help overturn the coup. He was fired on the grounds that he “abused the power and responsibilities of a permanent ambassador” and “betrayed the country,” according to local television. This announcement came as the military intensified its crackdown on anti-coup protesters. Myanmar has seen 21 consecutive days of protests since the country’s military seized power in a coup, ousting the democratically-elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained alongside other government leaders including President Win Myint.
4. Andrew Cuomo is accused of sexual harassment
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s second former aide is accusing him of sexual harassment. Charlotte Bennett alleges that Cuomo asked her intrusive questions about her sex life. This incident happened late last spring, during the height of the state’s fight against COVID. In a statement, Cuomo denied the allegations and said that he believed he had been acting as a mentor. He stated that he has “never made advances toward Ms. Bennett, nor did [he] ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.” Another former aide had accused him of sexual harassment earlier, including an unsolicited kiss.
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