The Axios subject-matter experts brief you on the incoming administration's plans and team.
Scammers seize on COVID confusion
Data:Â FTC; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios
Scamming has skyrocketed in the past year, and much of the increase is attributed to COVID-related scams, more recently around vaccines.
Why it matters: The pandemic has created a prime opportunity for scammers to target people who are already confused about the chaotic rollouts of things like stimulus payments, loans, contact tracing and vaccines. Data shows that older people who aren't digitally literate are the most vulnerable.
Biden explains justification for Syria strike in letter to congressional leadership
President Biden told congressional leadership in a letter Saturday that this week's airstrike against facilities tied to Iranian-backed militia groups in Syria was consistent with the U.S. right to self-defense.
Why it matters: Some Democrats, including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), have criticized the Biden administration for the strike and demanded a briefing.
FDA authorizes Johnson & Johnson's one-shot COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use
The Food and Drugs Administration on Saturdayissued an emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine.
Why it matters: The authorization of a third coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. will help speed up the vaccine rollout across the country, especially since the J&J shot only requires one dose as opposed to Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's two-shot vaccines.
Preview: "Axios on HBO" interviews White House Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond
On the next episode of "Axios on HBO," Axios co-founder Mike Allen interviews White House Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond.
- Catch the full interview and much more on Sunday, February 28 at 6 pm. ET/PT on all HBO platforms.
Italy tightens COVID restrictions for 5 regions amid warnings of a growing prevalence of variants
Italy on Saturday announced it was tightening restrictions in five of the country's 20 regions in an effort curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Driving the news: The announcement comes as health experts and scientists warn of the more transmissible coronavirus variants, per Reuters.
Axios AM New Washington Deep Dive on the health care agenda
As America emerges from the pandemic, here's a special Axios AM Deep Dive on the Biden administration's health care agenda.
Palestinian Authority announces new COVID restrictions as cases surge
The Palestinian Authority on Saturday announced fresh coronavirus restrictions, including a partial lockdown, for the occupied West Bank as COVID-19 cases surge.
The big picture: The new measures come as Israel, which leads the world in vaccinations, faces increased pressure to ensure Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip have equal access to vaccines.
Myanmar military fires UN ambassador after anti-coup speech
Myanmar's military regime on Saturday fired the country's Ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, a day after he gave a pro-democracy speech asking UN member nations to publicly condemn the Feb. 1 coup, The New York Times reports.
Details: State television said the ambassador had "betrayed the country and spoken for an unofficial organization which doesn’t represent the country and had abused the power and responsibilities of an ambassador."
