President Rodrigo Duterte said he would retire from politics and not run for vice president next year, but gave no indication on when he would step down.

Representative Pramila Jayapal, the leader of the Democrats' progressive caucus, voiced optimism about passing both pieces of President Biden's domestic agenda. Her group opposes passing an infrastructure bill until the social spending plan advances.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said that the state would phase-in the coronavirus vaccine mandate for in-person learning after receiving full approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The mandate could begin as early as next fall.

Health officials said the drug could provide an effective way to treat Covid-19, but stressed that vaccines remained the best tool to prevent infections.

The blaze ripped through the hospital's intensive care unit where Covid patients were being treated, becoming Romania's third deadly hospital fire in less than a year. The incident raised questions about the country's health care infrastructure.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia announced that the country would reopen its borders next month for fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel back and forth from overseas.

Senators from both sides of the aisle threw harsh questions at Antigone Davis, Facebook's global head of safety, admonishing her for withholding internal information about how its services hurt young people.

Democratic Representatives Cori Bush of Missouri, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Barbara Lee of California spoke to a House committee about their decisions to seek an abortion.

Lawmakers in the Senate and House cleared a short-term spending bill to extend federal funding through early December, avoiding a government shutdown.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the bipartisan infrastructure bill would be voted on later in the day but stressed that her caucus would need assurances that a larger $3.5 trillion bill would be approved later.