The measure passed 52-48, with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana joining all Republicans in supporting the bill.

Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout for Young Children Is Slow in Many States

Covid-19 vaccinations for children 5 to 11 years old are off to a slow start in many parts of the U.S., federal data show, underscoring the challenges health officials face in persuading parents to inoculate their children.

Roughly five million, or 18%, of the estimated 28.4 million U.S. children in the 5-to-11 age bracket have gotten at least one shot in the five weeks since they were cleared to get vaccinated, the data show. The picture varies by region, with rates in several New England states above 30% and some states in the South far off the national pace, an analysis by The Wall Street Journal of the data shows.

Olympics Boycott Expands to Include Diplomatic Officials From U.K., Canada

OTTAWA-The U.K. and Canada on Wednesday joined a widening diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing concerns over China's human rights record.

The U.S. said on Monday that it wouldn't send government officials to the Games, which are set to begin in February, although athletes will still be able to participate. The Biden administration had faced pressure to boycott the Olympic Games for months, but those calls intensified after Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai vanished from public view in November after making a public allegation of sexual assault against a retired Chinese official.

U.S. Accuses El Salvador's Government of Cutting a Deal With Gangs

The administration of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele secretly negotiated a truce with the imprisoned leaders of the country's top criminal gangs in exchange for financial and prison benefits, including sex workers and cellphones, the U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday.

The accusation by the U.S. government is the latest sign of rising tension with the impoverished Central American nation, where rampant violence and endemic poverty have led to mass migration to the U.S.

Biden Rules Out Unilateral Force if Russia Invades Ukraine

President Biden said Wednesday he hoped to convene meetings between Russia and NATO allies to discuss Moscow's troop buildup along the Ukrainian border, and ruled out the unilateral use of U.S. force if Russia invades its neighbor.

And in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was responding to a "creeping threat" from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and didn't fully close the door on an invasion.

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This article is a text version of a Wall Street Journal newsletter published earlier today.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-09-21 0634ET