news,english
Judy Woodruff:
In the day's other news: African leaders appealed to rich nations today not to give booster shots before others obtain a first dose.
At the U.N. General Assembly, Namibia's president called it vaccine apartheid. South Africa's president pointed to a stark disparity.
Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President:
It is an indictment on humanity that more than 82 percent of the world's vaccine doses have been acquired by wealthy countries, while less than 1 percent has gone to low-income countries.
Judy Woodruff:
We will take a closer look at vaccination efforts in Uganda later in the program.
The U.S. special envoy to Haiti resigned in protest today over expelling Haitian migrants back to that troubled nation. Daniel Foote called it inhumane and counterproductive. U.S. officials say that 1, 400 Haitians have been expelled. About 4,000 remain near Del Rio, Texas. And thousands have been returned to Mexico or released in the U.S. We will take a closer look after the news summary.
A shooting today in Tennessee left two dead, including the gunman, and 12 wounded. It happened at a grocery store in Collierville, about 30 miles east of Memphis. Police say the shooter opened fire, and then turned the gun on himself. There was no word on a motive.
In Louisiana, a federal grand jury indicted former state policeman Jacob Brown for beating a Black man with a metal flashlight in 2019. He's accused of violating Aaron Bowman's civil rights. It is one of several investigations involving beatings of Black men by Louisiana Troopers.
Democratic congressional leaders now say they have a framework deal to pay for a huge spending measure covering social and environmental programs. They gave no details today. And there's no agreement on the final size of the bill.
Party leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said they still favor $3.5 trillion.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA):
We're finalizing on the outlays side, so, if we need more, we need less, that will impact the choices we make there. But this was great progress.
Judy Woodruff:
Party progressives and moderates remain divided over how big the spending bill should be.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a rule to sharply limit the use of coolant gases known as HFCs. The goal is a reduction of 85 percent in the next 15 years. HFCs help cool refrigerators and air conditioners, but scientists say they help fuel global warming.
California is now the first state to bar Amazon and other giant warehouse employers from punishing or firing workers over productivity quotas. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Wednesday. Backers say the quotas can drive up workplace injuries.
On Wall Street, stocks rallied again as concerns eased about Federal Reserve policy. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 506 points to close at 34764. The Nasdaq rose 155 points. The S&P 500 added 53.
And an ancient clay tablet was repatriated to Iraq today. The Gilgamesh Dream Tablet is 3, 500 years old. Officials say it was illegally imported to the U.S. in 2003, and wound up in the private Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Federal agents seized it in 2019.
from:pbs