Business Report: Moderna to launch trial for vaccine to fight COVID variant

Morning Business Report
February 25, 2021

• Moderna is set to launch a clinical trial of a new vaccine designed to combat a variant of the coronavirus.

• A government watchdog said the Federal Aviation Administration needs to improve its oversight of new aircraft.

• Markets popped as Fed chair Jerome Powell commits to keeping interest rates low.

• Dunkin’ added avocado toast, a matcha-topped doughnut, and blueberry matcha latte to its spring menu.

• The postal service has new mail truck. 

Moderna is set to launch a clinical trial of a new vaccine designed to combat a variant of the coronavirus.

Any change to the vaccine would need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Some studies have shown the South African variant is more resistant to current COVID vaccines.

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A government watchdog said the Federal Aviation Administration needs to improve its oversight of new aircraft.

The Transportation Department’s inspector general said “weaknesses” in the FAA’s certification processes hurt the effectiveness of its oversight of the planes. 

Crashes of two, nearly new Max airplanes less than five months apart, in 2018 and 2019, prompted a worldwide grounding of the jets and reviews of development and certification flaws.

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Markets popped as Fed chair Jerome Powell commits to keeping interest rates low.

The Dow closed at an all-time high.

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Dunkin’ added avocado toast, a matcha-topped doughnut, and blueberry matcha latte to its spring menu.

Dunkin is also adding a grilled cheese melt and an option with ham.

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The U.S. Postal Service has a new mail truck. 

The squatty, box-like van has a steering wheel on the right to make it easier for drivers to reach out and put mail in curbside mailboxes.

Some are electric vehicles but not all.