Johnson & Johnson saw its stocks suffer their biggest drop in 16 years, following a media report that alleged the company concealed for decades that trace amounts of asbestos was in its baby powder. 

Shares of the U.S. pharmaceutical and cosmetics group fell 9 percent Friday, wiping out tens of billions of dollars from the company’s market capitalization.

Linked to ovarian cancer

The report Friday, by Reuters news service, cited documents released as part of a lawsuit by plaintiffs claiming that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder can be linked to ovarian cancer.

It said that the company’s executives knew the baby powder contained trace amounts of asbestos, from as early as 1971, but deliberately chose not to make the information public.

The Reuters report also alleged that Johnson & Johnson tried, unsuccessfully, to stop regulators from lowering the maximum level of asbestos allowed in talc-based cosmetics.

Report is strongly denied

Johnson & Johnson strongly denied the report Friday, calling it “one-sided, false and inflammatory.”

“Simply put, the Reuters story is an absurd conspiracy theory,” the company said in a statement. “Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder is safe and asbestos-free.”

The controversy has long dogged the company, which has been battling more than 10,000 cases claiming its Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products cause ovarian cancer.

Investors worry the lawsuits will cost the company billions of dollars in damages and loss of future sales of Johnson & Johnson products.  
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A divided U.S. appeals court Thursday blocked rules by the Trump administration that allowed more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control.

The ruling, however, may be short lived because the administration has adopted new rules on contraceptive coverage that are set to take effect next month and will likely prompt renewed legal challenges.

Thursday’s ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concerned changes to birth control coverage requirements under President Barack Obama’s health care law that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued in October 2017.

States were likely to succeed on their claim that those changes were made without required notice and public comment, the appeals court panel said in a 2-1 decision.

The majority upheld a preliminary injunction against the rules issued by U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam last year. It, however, limited the scope of the injunction, applying it only to the five states in the lawsuit and not the entire country.

Another federal judge also blocked the rules, and her nationwide injunction remains in place.

An email to the Justice Department seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Obama’s health care law required most companies to cover birth control at no additional cost, though it included exemptions for religious organizations. The new policy allowed more categories of employers, including publicly traded companies, to opt out of providing free contraception to women by claiming religious objections. It also allowed any company that is not publicly traded to deny coverage on moral grounds.

The Department of Justice said in court documents that the rules were about protecting a small group of “sincere religious and moral objectors” from having to violate their beliefs. The changes were favored by social conservatives who are staunch supporters of President Donald Trump.

California filed a lawsuit to block the changes that was joined by Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia.

“Today’s decision is an important step to protect a woman’s right to access cost-free birth control and make independent decisions about her own reproductive health care,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

‘Economic harm’

The states argued that the changes could result in millions of women losing free birth control services, forcing them to seek contraceptive care through state-run programs or programs that the states had to reimburse.

The states show with “reasonable probability” that the new rules will lead women to lose employer-sponsored contraceptive coverage, “which will then result in economic harm to the states,” 9th Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace, a nominee of Republican President Richard Nixon, wrote for the majority.

In a dissent, 9th Circuit Judge Andrew Kleinfeld said the economic harm to the states was “self-inflicted” because they chose to provide contraceptive coverage to women. The states, therefore, did not have the authority to bring the lawsuit, said Kleinfeld, a nominee of Republican President George H.W. Bush.

The case became more complicated after the Trump administration last month issued new birth control coverage rules that are set to supersede those at issue in the lawsuit before the 9th Circuit. Under the new rules, large companies whose stock is sold to investors won’t be able to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage.

Wallace said the new rules did not make the case before the 9th Circuit moot because they are not set to take effect until January.
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U.S. government officials on Thursday hailed China’s first meager purchase of U.S. soybeans since its trade war with the United States began in July and said they hoped for, but could not guarantee, more to come.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced private sales of 1.13 million tons of U.S. soybeans to China, a figure that farmers and grain traders said was not large enough on its own to lift slumping prices or absorb a huge surplus that has accumulated across the farm belt.

The sale was first reported by Reuters on Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an exclusive interview that China was buying a “tremendous amount” of U.S. soybeans.

“Having a million, million-and-a-half tons is great, it’s wonderful, it’s a great step,” USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky said at an Iowa Soybean Association annual meeting Thursday. “But there needs to be a lot more as well, especially if you consider it in a normal, typical year, we’ll be selling 30 to 35 million metric tons to China.”

“We think it is a good start, it is promising,” Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told reporters in Washington. “We are certainly hopeful and expecting that it’ll come through,” he said, in reference to further sales.

Asked if there had been any talks with China for further purchases, Perdue said: “No. Not that we’ve had, but as you know, the U.S. Trade Representative is in charge of that.”

Soybean prices fell on Thursday as grain traders eyed a massive U.S. soybean surplus in storage, and what is expected to be a record-large harvest from the world’s biggest soybean exporter, Brazil, just weeks away.

The U.S. soybean sales to China came after Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping agreed to a 90-day detente in their tit-for-tat tariff war to negotiate a trade deal after meeting at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires.

The purchases, which traders said were made by state-owned companies in China, were viewed as the most concrete evidence yet that Beijing is making good on pledges the U.S. government said Xi made when the two leaders met Dec. 1.

While it was the ninth largest single-day U.S. soybean sale on record, it amounted to just 3.5 percent of China’s U.S. soy purchases last year and 2 percent of U.S. shipments to all foreign buyers.

“If further activity and amounts aren’t confirmed, the trade could soon be ready to settle in for a long, cold, fundamentally bearish winter,” said Matt Zeller, market intelligence analyst with INTL FCStone.

With exports to China drying up, U.S. soybean prices have traded around their lowest levels in a decade in recent months.

The actively traded Chicago Board of Trade March soybean contract fell more than 1 percent on Thursday to the lowest in a week, in the steepest drop in 2-1/2 weeks.

Trade aid delayed

The White House this week delayed additional payments from a promised $12 billion aid package for farmers stung by the trade war because it expected Beijing to resume buying U.S. soybeans.

“We’ve been arm wrestling with our folks from the OMB,” Censky said, in reference to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which must sign off on the payouts.

Perdue said he would be meeting with the White House on the issue Friday and expected that the second tranche would eventually be paid.

“OMB … is always looking to hold onto money. I think this is a commitment the president had made. … We hope to have it resolved very soon,” he said.

He said he believed that trade issues remained damaging enough to U.S. agricultural export markets to warrant the second tranche of payments, despite the buying from China.

The 25 percent tariff Beijing imposed on U.S. soy shipments in July in retaliation for American duties on Chinese goods remains in place.

China last year bought about 60 percent of U.S. soybean exports in deals valued at more than $12 billion. The purchases confirmed Thursday were less than $500 million.

U.S. exports to China dropped to 8.2 million tons in the first 10 months of the year, with the vast majority of that shipped before the tariffs took effect in July.
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The United States is immediately instituting a new policy for Africa that was just approved by President Donald Trump, his national security adviser, John Bolton, announced Thursday.

“Under our new approach, every decision we make, every policy we pursue, and every dollar of aid we spend will further U.S. priorities in the region,” said Bolton, speaking in Washington.  “Our first priority, enhancing U.S. economic ties with the region, is not only essential to improving opportunities for American workers and businesses. It is also vital to safeguarding the economic independence of African states and protecting U.S. national security interests.”

The policy shift is also meant to counter on the continent the rapidly expanding financial and political influence of China and Russia. 

“They are deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States,” Bolton said at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. “We want our economic partners in the region to thrive, prosper and control their own destinies.  In America’s economic dealings, we ask only for reciprocity, never for subservience.”

China uses big loan, opaque deals

Bolton said China is using big loans and opaque agreements to make Africa “captive to Beijing’s wishes and demands,” singling out projects in Zambia and Djibouti where he said Chinese enterprises are set to take over a state power company and a key port, respectively.

Some analysts caution against looking at the African continent as a battleground for U.S. competition with China.

“It can undermine our actual strategies with many countries in Africa by seeing them through the prism of competition,” says senior fellow Michael Fuchs at the Center for American Progress, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs in the Obama administration.  

Russia shows ‘little regard for rule of law’

Russia in Africa, according to Bolton, “advances its political and economic relationships with little regard for the rule of law or accountable and transparent governance.”

While Fuchs welcomes the attention by the Trump administration to Africa, he does not expect what Bolton announced to convince many partners and the continent of a U.S. commitment there.

“I think that he potentially undermined some of the potential for these partnerships with some of the policy proposals that he made,” Fuchs told VOA.

The immediate reaction overall to Bolton’s speech from African officials appeared to be cautious optimism.

“We are happy to understand that finally America has a strategy that is purposeful towards Africa,” David Gacheru, the deputy chief of mission at Kenya’s embassy in Washington, told VOA, adding the Trump administration is potentially filling a void that has existed for many years.

All Africa aid under review

The United States has provided more than $8 billion in aid to Africa in each of the past two fiscal years and a review of all aid is being finalized, according to Bolton.

The many more billions of U.S. tax dollars spent there over recent decades, Bolton said, have failed to stop terrorism, radicalism and violence, nor have they prevented other powers from increasing their own power and influence.

“And, they have not led to stable and transparent governance, economic viability and increasing development across the region,” said Bolton. 

Administration officials are not saying whether total aid to Africa will be cut and how involved Trump will be in making decisions as to how much each country will get and for what projects as the president touts a transactional approach to foreign assistance. 

When the president’s budget “comes out, that’s when you will see the outcome,” Bolton said in response to a question from VOA.

South Sudan a likely target

In his speech, Bolton said Washington will no longer fund “corrupt autocrats who used the money to fill their coffers at the expense of their people, to commit gross human rights violations.”

One likely target for significant cuts in U.S. assistance is South Sudan, where a civil war is entering its sixth year. 

“We will not provide loans or more American resources to a South Sudanese government led by the same morally bankrupt leaders,” vowed Bolton.

Noticeably absent from the new plan is any “commitment to advancing human rights and democracy,” according to the global humanitarian group Mercy Corps, which says its research in Africa “has consistently found that government neglect and injustice, including human rights abuses and corruption, are primary drivers of support for violent extremism and armed conflict.”

The organization is calling on the Trump administration to make central to its Africa policy goals of “alleviating suffering, poverty and oppression and promoting good governance.” 

Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report.
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The dogs were primped, pampered and posed like fashion models before their big moment in front of the camera. A pair of matching, elegant-looking pups decked out with black velvet and rhinestone collars looked like they should belong to the Kardashians. 

About 100 dogs got their pictures taken with Santa Claus by a professional pet photographer at Dogma Gourmet Dog Bakery and Boutique in Arlington, Virginia. From large Golden Retrievers to pint-sized Chihuahuas, the pups were dressed for the holidays.

“I like the ones where you can see the interaction where the dog looks like he’s having a conversation quietly with Santa,” said professional pet photographer, Jeannie Taylor. “They’re part of the family. They should have their Santa photos, just as they should be part of family photos.”

“It’s fun, it’s festive and making memories,” said Sheena Cole who came with her Corgi to the annual event.

Annual event for some

Some people bring their dogs every year, including Brian Rose who arrived with two Schnauzers he calls his kids. 

“We get the girls dressed up in their little ribbons and see all the other dogs in their costumes,” he said.

They included canines wearing a Santa hat or dressed as elves. Alycia Foley wanted the Santa picture with her bulldog Quincy to reflect both Christmas and Hanukkah. 

“I put a yamaka and scarf on him for Hanukkah because I’m Jewish. I celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, so I wanted him to celebrate both.”

Money to charities

A large portion of the $25 cost for each photo is donated to several local dog rescue groups. Zach Klipple with Vindictive Pit Bull Rescue said the money goes to buy items like food, toys, crates and kennels.

​Many of the dogs at the event were rescues. Melinda Thalor, who calls herself a pet grandparent, asked her daughter’s rescue dog, “to show me your smile.” 

“The support this event gives to the animals is wonderful. We’ve always had rescue dogs and they’re the best kind,” Thalor said.

Say ‘cheese’

During the photo shoots it was a challenge to get the dogs to stay still, so Taylor and her assistant used innovative ways to get their attention, which seemed to do the trick.

“We make sounds that are out of the norm of their daily routine — high pitch squeaky toys, and weird noises with our mouths,” Taylor explained.

While some dogs enjoyed the attention, others tried to make a bolt for the door.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Santa laughing, reflecting on what the dogs must be thinking.

Santa knows

Jim Greer, who for years has played Santa for both children and dogs, said the pups can be like kids, too.

“Some of them will jump up in your lap. Others will run away from you. I get one once in a while that will bark at me. I’ve been nipped at a couple of times, but I haven’t been bitten, and hopefully we can keep it that way,” he said and laughed.

Penny Edwards and her 3-year-old daughter came in their matching pajamas, along with their brown-and-white dog named Blue. The little girl told Santa what she would like for Christmas, and said Blue told Santa he wanted cheese and a ball. 

Pet parent Amy Kessler is looking forward to sending Christmas cards with her cute white dog’s photo to friends and family.

“He’s so happy and smiling and it cheers everyone up, I think, to see a little pup with Santa,” she said with a smile. 
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The U.S. Senate adjourned late Wednesday, delaying its vote on a resolution to end American support for Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen’s civil war.

The Senate will reconvene Thursday at 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 UTC) and resume consideration of the resolution.

A vote is planned at 1:45 p.m. EST (1845 UTC). A handful of Republican senators are expected to join Democrats in ultimately passing the resolution.

Earlier Wednesday, the Republican-led chamber voted 60-39 to begin debate on the measure, acting in defiance of the Trump administration, which had strenuously argued against a rupture of cooperation between Washington and longtime ally Riyadh.

“There needs to be an end to U.S. complicity in the ongoing bombing of civilians and the killing of children (in Yemen), in effect, war crimes,” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal told VOA.

“This resolution says that in this terrible, horrific war that Congress is prepared to act, and I hope very much that all of us will seize this opportunity,” Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who co-authored the measure, said.

War powers authority

Underpinning the resolution is an assertion of Congress’ constitutional duty to declare war and approve U.S. military missions. The U.S. legislature has not authorized America’s support role in Saudi Arabia’s campaign to combat Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels, a conflict that has led to widespread civilian deaths and stands as one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes.

But some argued that, in this instance, the case for asserting war powers authority is weak.

“The United States is not involved in combat (in Yemen). It is not dropping ordinance. It is no longer even providing air-to-air refueling (for Saudi warplanes),” Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said. “If the Senate wants to pick a constitutional fight with the executive branch over war powers, I would advise my colleagues to pick a better case.”

Top Trump administration officials have argued that the conflict in Yemen would be even deadlier without the involvement of the United States, which has helped Saudi Arabia identify bombing targets. McConnell echoed the argument.

“This resolution would threaten other support the U.S. is providing that is designed to improve coalition targeting and to limit civilian casualties,” the majority leader said.

Congressional ire toward Saudi Arabia had been simmering for years as Yemen’s civil war dragged on with ever-higher civilian death tolls. Anger spiked after dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the kingdom’s consulate in Turkey two months ago.

Speaking at the United Nations Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted that the Trump administration has sanctioned “a large number of persons who were responsible for the heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” adding, “(W)e will continue to investigate and take the facts where they lead and get to a place where we hold those responsible accountable.”

But Pompeo stressed that “America’s interests in the region are important, and our partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an important one. It has delivered American security in important ways in President Trump’s first two years in office, and we intend to continue to work with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to keep America safe.”

Trump has said that responsibility for Khashoggi’s death remains an open question, and he noted Riyadh’s repeated denials that the kingdom’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, played a role.

The Senate took up the Yemen resolution hours after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leaders of the House of Representatives on the agency’s conclusions about the Khashoggi killing. Haspel similarly briefed key senators last week, after which lawmakers of both parties said they were convinced MSB ordered the journalist’s grisly demise.

While the Senate resolution, if approved, would send a strong signal of displeasure to Saudi Arabia, it is likely to stand as a largely symbolic gesture for now. Swift House action became less likely after the chamber advanced a rule blocking a vote on any war powers resolution relating to Yemen for the remainder of the current Congress.

Senators of both parties have said they expect further consideration of Saudi Arabia-related measures when the new Congress is sworn in at the beginning of next year.
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