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Biden endorses Covid booster shots as ‘best way to protect ourselves from new variants’ – live Biden endorses Covid booster shots as ‘best way to protect ourselves from new variants’ – as it happened
(32 minutes later)
President delivers speech on latest efforts to get Americans vaccinated – follow all the latestPresident delivers speech on latest efforts to get Americans vaccinated – follow all the latest
US health officials recommended offering booster shots to all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The US expects to offer booster shots starting the week of 20 September, and health officials urged Americans to get their third dose eight months after receiving their second shot. Joe Biden endorsed the recommendation, saying in a speech this afternoon, “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”US health officials recommended offering booster shots to all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The US expects to offer booster shots starting the week of 20 September, and health officials urged Americans to get their third dose eight months after receiving their second shot. Joe Biden endorsed the recommendation, saying in a speech this afternoon, “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”
The World Health Organization criticized the US plan to distribute booster shots, given the lack of available vaccines in many low-income countries. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity, and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months.”The World Health Organization criticized the US plan to distribute booster shots, given the lack of available vaccines in many low-income countries. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity, and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months.”
Biden directed the department of health and human services to develop regulations requiring nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. Noting that coronavirus vaccination rates among nursing home staff are significantly lower than those of the larger US population, Biden said, “I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors.”Biden directed the department of health and human services to develop regulations requiring nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. Noting that coronavirus vaccination rates among nursing home staff are significantly lower than those of the larger US population, Biden said, “I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors.”
The US embassy told Americans still in Afghanistan that it “cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai international airport”. The embassy’s update came amid reports that some people have been beaten at Taliban checkpoints near the airport, preventing them from boarding departing flights.The US embassy told Americans still in Afghanistan that it “cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai international airport”. The embassy’s update came amid reports that some people have been beaten at Taliban checkpoints near the airport, preventing them from boarding departing flights.
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff insisted that he had not seen US intelligence suggesting Kabul could fall to the Taliban in a matter of days, contradicting reports that military leaders were warned of such a possibility. “There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days,” General Mark Milley said at a press conference this afternoon.The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff insisted that he had not seen US intelligence suggesting Kabul could fall to the Taliban in a matter of days, contradicting reports that military leaders were warned of such a possibility. “There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days,” General Mark Milley said at a press conference this afternoon.
In an interview ABC News, Joe Biden seemed to say there may not have been a way to withdraw from Afghanistan “without chaos ensuing”. He told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “No, I don’t think it could have been handled in a way that, we’re gonna go back in hindsight and look – but the idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens. I don’t know how that happened.”In an interview ABC News, Joe Biden seemed to say there may not have been a way to withdraw from Afghanistan “without chaos ensuing”. He told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “No, I don’t think it could have been handled in a way that, we’re gonna go back in hindsight and look – but the idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens. I don’t know how that happened.”
Bernie Sanders: The planet is in peril. We’re building Congress’s strongest-ever climate billBernie Sanders: The planet is in peril. We’re building Congress’s strongest-ever climate bill
The Vermont senator writes in an op-ed for the Guardian:The Vermont senator writes in an op-ed for the Guardian:
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The World Health Organization has criticized wealthy countries’ approval of Covid-19 vaccine boosters when so many around the world remain unvaccinated, without access.The World Health Organization has criticized wealthy countries’ approval of Covid-19 vaccine boosters when so many around the world remain unvaccinated, without access.
Agence France-Presse reports:Agence France-Presse reports:
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Ted Cruz’s campaign spent more than $150,000 at US book chain Books-A-Million in the months after the Texas senator’s book was published, Forbes has reported.Ted Cruz’s campaign spent more than $150,000 at US book chain Books-A-Million in the months after the Texas senator’s book was published, Forbes has reported.
In September, Cruz, who was prominent among the Republicans trying to block the certification of Joe Biden’s election, published One Vote Away: How a Single Supreme Court Seat Can Change History. A financial disclosure he filed on Monday, reported on by Forbes, shows he received almost $320,000 as an advance in 2020 from the book’s publisher Regnery Publishing.In September, Cruz, who was prominent among the Republicans trying to block the certification of Joe Biden’s election, published One Vote Away: How a Single Supreme Court Seat Can Change History. A financial disclosure he filed on Monday, reported on by Forbes, shows he received almost $320,000 as an advance in 2020 from the book’s publisher Regnery Publishing.
“With a simple majority on the supreme court, the left will have the power to curtail or even abolish the freedoms that have made our country a beacon to the world. We are one vote away from losing the Republic that the founders handed down to us. Our most precious constitutional rights hang by a thread,” says Regnery of the title. “In One Vote Away, you will discover how often the high court decisions that affect your life have been decided by just one vote.”“With a simple majority on the supreme court, the left will have the power to curtail or even abolish the freedoms that have made our country a beacon to the world. We are one vote away from losing the Republic that the founders handed down to us. Our most precious constitutional rights hang by a thread,” says Regnery of the title. “In One Vote Away, you will discover how often the high court decisions that affect your life have been decided by just one vote.”
The end-of-year report from Cruz’s committee, filed with the Federal Election Commission, reveals that two weeks after One Vote Away was published, his campaign spent $40,000 at Books-A-Million. Shortly afterwards, it spent a further $1,500, and in December, $111,900 more. All of the purchases are described by the campaign as “books”, and Forbes speculated that they may have been used to boost his book sales, quoting Brett Kappel, a lawyer specialising in campaign finance, who said that “the FEC has issued a long series of advisory opinions allowing members to use campaign funds to buy copies of their own books at a discount from the publisher, provided that the royalties they would normally receive on those sales are given to charity”.The end-of-year report from Cruz’s committee, filed with the Federal Election Commission, reveals that two weeks after One Vote Away was published, his campaign spent $40,000 at Books-A-Million. Shortly afterwards, it spent a further $1,500, and in December, $111,900 more. All of the purchases are described by the campaign as “books”, and Forbes speculated that they may have been used to boost his book sales, quoting Brett Kappel, a lawyer specialising in campaign finance, who said that “the FEC has issued a long series of advisory opinions allowing members to use campaign funds to buy copies of their own books at a discount from the publisher, provided that the royalties they would normally receive on those sales are given to charity”.
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Gabrielle Canon and agencies:Gabrielle Canon and agencies:
Few homes were left standing in Grizzly Flats, California, the small northern California forest town leveled by the Caldor fire on Tuesday.Few homes were left standing in Grizzly Flats, California, the small northern California forest town leveled by the Caldor fire on Tuesday.
Streets in the town of about 1,200 people were littered with downed power lines and poles. Houses were reduced to smoldering ash and twisted metal with only chimneys rising above the ruins. A post office and elementary school were also destroyed. Two people were in the hospital with serious injuries.Streets in the town of about 1,200 people were littered with downed power lines and poles. Houses were reduced to smoldering ash and twisted metal with only chimneys rising above the ruins. A post office and elementary school were also destroyed. Two people were in the hospital with serious injuries.
Thousands more structures still lay in the path of the fast-moving fire. On Wednesday morning, the blaze was 0% contained, with crews desperately working to contain the damage.Thousands more structures still lay in the path of the fast-moving fire. On Wednesday morning, the blaze was 0% contained, with crews desperately working to contain the damage.
The destruction in Grizzly Flats came as dangerously dry and windy weather continued to fuel huge blazes across the American west and prompted the nation’s largest utility to begin shutting off power to tens of thousands of customers.The destruction in Grizzly Flats came as dangerously dry and windy weather continued to fuel huge blazes across the American west and prompted the nation’s largest utility to begin shutting off power to tens of thousands of customers.
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Samira Sadeque reports for the Guardian:Samira Sadeque reports for the Guardian:
A proposed change in the processing of asylum applications in the U.S. aims to reduce the wait times of cases, and will redirect the applications to be reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as opposed to the Department of Justice (DoJ), which currently reviews them.A proposed change in the processing of asylum applications in the U.S. aims to reduce the wait times of cases, and will redirect the applications to be reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as opposed to the Department of Justice (DoJ), which currently reviews them.
On Wednesday, DHS announced the proposal as a development in the Biden administration’s plans for a “fair, orderly, and humane immigration system”.On Wednesday, DHS announced the proposal as a development in the Biden administration’s plans for a “fair, orderly, and humane immigration system”.
The proposed change would mean U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is under DHS, will review the applications for asylum.The proposed change would mean U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is under DHS, will review the applications for asylum.
DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said this process will mean those who are eligible will receive their answers swiftly, while those who do not qualify will be immediately declined.DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said this process will mean those who are eligible will receive their answers swiftly, while those who do not qualify will be immediately declined.
Currently, the applications are processed through immigration judges under DoJ.Currently, the applications are processed through immigration judges under DoJ.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has said this proposal would reduce the caseload in the immigration system, and will mark another “step forward” in creating an asylum process that is “fairer and more expeditious”.Attorney General Merrick Garland has said this proposal would reduce the caseload in the immigration system, and will mark another “step forward” in creating an asylum process that is “fairer and more expeditious”.
In an interview ABC News, Joe Biden seemed to say there may not have been a way to withdraw from Afghanistan “without chaos ensuing”.In an interview ABC News, Joe Biden seemed to say there may not have been a way to withdraw from Afghanistan “without chaos ensuing”.
He told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “No, I don’t think it could have been handled in a way that, we’re gonna go back in hindsight and look – but the idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens. I don’t know how that happened.”He told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: “No, I don’t think it could have been handled in a way that, we’re gonna go back in hindsight and look – but the idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens. I don’t know how that happened.”
The US said it has evacuated 3,200 people from Afghanistan but thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans who want to leave the country remain.The US said it has evacuated 3,200 people from Afghanistan but thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans who want to leave the country remain.
“Look, one of the things we didn’t know is what the Taliban would do in terms of trying to keep people from getting out,” Biden told ABC.“Look, one of the things we didn’t know is what the Taliban would do in terms of trying to keep people from getting out,” Biden told ABC.
Follow more Afghanistan developments here:Follow more Afghanistan developments here:
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Sigh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Sigh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
US health officials recommended offering booster shots to all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The US expects to offer booster shots starting the week of September 20, and health officials urged Americans to get their third dose eight months after receiving their second shot. Joe Biden endorsed the recommendation, saying in a speech this afternoon, “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”US health officials recommended offering booster shots to all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The US expects to offer booster shots starting the week of September 20, and health officials urged Americans to get their third dose eight months after receiving their second shot. Joe Biden endorsed the recommendation, saying in a speech this afternoon, “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”
The World Health Organization criticized the US plan to distribute booster shots, given the lack of available vaccines in many low-income countries. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity, and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months.”The World Health Organization criticized the US plan to distribute booster shots, given the lack of available vaccines in many low-income countries. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity, and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months.”
Biden directed the department of health and human services to develop regulations requiring nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. Noting that coronavirus vaccination rates among nursing home staff are significantly lower than those of the larger US population, Biden said, “I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors.”Biden directed the department of health and human services to develop regulations requiring nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. Noting that coronavirus vaccination rates among nursing home staff are significantly lower than those of the larger US population, Biden said, “I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors.”
The US embassy told Americans still in Afghanistan that it “cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai international airport”. The embassy’s update came amid reports that some people have been beaten at Taliban checkpoints near the airport, preventing them from boarding departing flights.The US embassy told Americans still in Afghanistan that it “cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai international airport”. The embassy’s update came amid reports that some people have been beaten at Taliban checkpoints near the airport, preventing them from boarding departing flights.
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff insisted that he had not seen US intelligence suggesting Kabul could fall to the Taliban in a matter of days, contradicting reports that military leaders were warned of such a possibility. “There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days,” General Mark Milley said at a press conference this afternoon.The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff insisted that he had not seen US intelligence suggesting Kabul could fall to the Taliban in a matter of days, contradicting reports that military leaders were warned of such a possibility. “There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days,” General Mark Milley said at a press conference this afternoon.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Joe Biden endorsed US health officials’ new recommendation that all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine get booster shots starting next month.Joe Biden endorsed US health officials’ new recommendation that all American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine get booster shots starting next month.
“This will boost your immune response,” Biden said. “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”“This will boost your immune response,” Biden said. “It’s the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise.”
The president urged anyone 18 or older who got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to seek a booster shot eight months after their second dose, echoing the advice from his pandemic response team.The president urged anyone 18 or older who got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to seek a booster shot eight months after their second dose, echoing the advice from his pandemic response team.
Biden concluded his prepared remarks and did not take any questions from reporters about the situation in Afghanistan.Biden concluded his prepared remarks and did not take any questions from reporters about the situation in Afghanistan.
Joe Biden formally announced that he is directing the department of health and human services to develop regulations to require nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for their employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding.Joe Biden formally announced that he is directing the department of health and human services to develop regulations to require nursing homes to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for their employees in order to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding.
The president noted that more than 130,000 residents of nursing homes have died of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.The president noted that more than 130,000 residents of nursing homes have died of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
“At the same time, vaccination rates among nursing home staff significantly trail the rest of the country,” Biden said, adding that high vaccination rates help protect older patients in such facilities.“At the same time, vaccination rates among nursing home staff significantly trail the rest of the country,” Biden said, adding that high vaccination rates help protect older patients in such facilities.
“I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors,” Biden said.“I’m using the power of the federal government, as a payer of health care costs, to ensure we reduce those risks to our most vulnerable seniors,” Biden said.