WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden has picked California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be his health secretary, putting a defender of the Affordable Care Act in a leading role to oversee his administration’s coronavirus response. If confirmed by the Senate, Becerra, 62, will be the first Latino to head the Department of Health and Human […]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — An orthodox Jewish woman was thrown off a Delta flight last Wednesday for allegedly not complying with mask regulations during her prayers. However the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed to YWN that she was compliant at all times and maintains that she was the target of anti-Semitism. The woman […]

NEW YORK (AP) — As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, U.S. health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy. Such a strategy, they say, could systematically check more people for infections and spot surges before they take off. The health experts say it […]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Six months ago, Apple and Google introduced a new smartphone tool designed to notify people who might have been exposed to the coronavirus, without disclosing any personal information. But for the most part, Americans haven’t been all that interested. Fewer than half of U.S. states and territories — 19 in total […]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Benjamin Franklin once remarked that “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While some people are trying to cheat the former, wealthy people aim to evade the latter in order to keep their wealth intact. One might think that the second wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, […]

TEL AVIV (VINnews) — Israeli police are expending most of their efforts in recent weeks in searching for mask offenders who are not wearing a mask or not wearing it properly as well as looking for clandestine weddings taking place in violation of regulations. Those who refuse to identify themselves in an attempt to evade […]

NEW YORK (AP) — The co-owner of a New York City bar that authorities said has been defying coronavirus restrictions was taken into custody early Sunday after running over a deputy with a car, authorities said. Danny Presti fled from his bar, Mac’s Public House, after deputies observed patrons entering the establishment Saturday night in […]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. health chief declared Friday that positive results from coronavirus vaccine trials mean the world “can begin to dream about the end of the pandemic,” but he said rich and powerful nations must not trample the poor and marginalized “in the stampede for vaccines.” In an address to the U.N. […]

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Medical Board has indefinitely suspended the medical license of a doctor who said at a pro-Trump rally that he doesn’t wear a mask at his Dallas, Oregon, clinic and doesn’t require his staff to wear face-coverings either. Dr. Steven LaTulippe also said at the Nov. 7 rally in Salem […]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The island kingdom of Bahrain said Friday it has become the second nation in the world to grant an emergency-use authorization for the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. The state-run Bahrain News Agency made the announcement on Friday night, following an earlier announcement by […]