Prospects of Intellectual-Property Waiver on Covid-19 Vaccines Fade

An agreement to waive the intellectual-property rights underpinning Covid-19 vaccines—a prospect poor countries have hoped would ease supplies to the developing world—is becoming increasingly unlikely, say people familiar with the situation…

Biden picks his broadband vanguard at FCC and Commerce Department

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced his plans to tap acting Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel as the agency’s permanent chief…

FDA authorizes an e-cigarette for first time, saying benefit for smokers outweighs risk to youths

Bryan Pietsch

The Food and Drug Administration authorized a set of e-cigarette products for sale in the United States for the first time on Tuesday after it concluded that the benefit to adult cigarette smokers outweighed the risk posed to young people.

FTC Weighs New Online Privacy Rules

John D. McKinnon and Ryan Tracy

The Federal Trade Commission is considering strengthening online privacy protections, including for children, in an effort to bypass legislative logjams in Congress.

FDA’s bans on flavored e-cigs create chaos for small vape shops

Katherine Ellen Foley

Small- and medium-sized e-cigarette makers and vendors are fighting to keep their doors open after the Food and Drug Administration ordered them to stop selling more than 6 million flavored vapes.

U.S. Revives Facebook Suit, Adding Details to Back Claim of a Monopoly

Cecelia Kang

The Federal Trade Commission took new aim at Facebook on Thursday, beefing up its accusations that the company was a monopoly that illegally crushed competition…

Lina Khan, Critic of Large Tech Firms, to Lead Federal Trade Commission

Brent Kendall

The Senate confirmed Lina Khan for a seat on the Federal Trade Commission, and the White House plans to tap her to lead the agency.

F.D.A. Approves Alzheimer’s Drug Despite Fierce Debate Over Whether It Works

Pam Belluck and Rebecca Robbins

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the first new medication for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly two decades.

Biden Administration Suspends Oil Leases in Arctic Refuge

Timothy Puko

The Biden administration on Tuesday suspended oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, blocking plans for the first-ever drilling program in the pristine 19-million-acre wilderness.

DHS to issue first cybersecurity regulations for pipelines after Colonial hack

Ellen Nakashima and Lori Aratani

The Department of Homeland Security is moving to regulate cybersecurity in the pipeline industry for the first time in an effort to prevent a repeat of a major computer attack that crippled nearly half the East Coast’s fuel supply this month.