By Nicole Gaouette President Joe Biden cast challenges to the US from China, Russia and global shifts in stark terms Thursday, describing “a battle between the utility of democracies in the 21st century and autocracies.” The President underscored that the United States faces an unprecedented array of tests, with Beijing posing what might be the
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By Kelly Mena, Fredreka Schouten, Dianne Gallagher and Pamela Kirkland Republicans in Georgia sped a sweeping elections bill into law Thursday, making it the first presidential battleground to impose new voting restrictions following President Joe Biden’s victory in the state. The bill passed both chambers of the legislature in the span of a few hours
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By Travis Caldwell The evidence that Americans are gearing up for a return to normal life is growing apparent. States are relaxing capacity restrictions for public areas and private gatherings. More school districts are reopening for in-person learning. Travel is increasing, with TSA data showing more than 1 million daily passengers in US airports for
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By Devan Cole Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for stricter gun laws following the mass shooting in Colorado, bemoaning what he called a national tolerance for “these kinds of random, senseless acts.” Obama said in a statement that he and former first lady Michelle Obama are grieving with the families of the victims
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By Kevin Liptak and Jasmine Wright President Joe Biden is tasking Vice President Kamala Harris with overseeing efforts with Central American countries to stem the flow of migrants to the US southern border, the first major issue Biden has assigned directly to his No. 2. “I asked her, the VP, today, because she’s the most
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By Mallika Kallingal A wave of tornadoes rolled across five southern states on Thursday, leaving at least five people dead and inflicting heavy damage in its wake, according to officials. Early Friday, the city of Newnan, Georgia, reported damage in and around its historic downtown area due to a tornado and repair crews were working
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By Claire Colbert National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Mark Emmert announced Thursday that the organization has retained a law firm to help address gaps in gender equity in college sports. The news comes after the NCAA generated backlash over discrepancies between amenities provided to the men’s and women’s basketball teams participating in March Madness
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By Maggie Fox Drug giant AstraZeneca updated its data on how well its coronavirus vaccine works, saying late Wednesday the vaccine showed 76% efficacy against symptomatic coronavirus disease and 100% efficacy against severe or critical disease or the need for hospitalization. The vaccine was 85% effective in preventing symptoms in volunteers 65 and older, the
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By Chauncey Alcorn The hit HBO show “Insecure” is set to premiere its fifth and final season later this year, but the series’ end is just the beginning for the relationship between its star, Jo-Issa Rae Diop ā aka Issa Rae ā and the premium cable channel’s parent company WarnerMedia. The 36-year-old actress and executive
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By Chauncey Alcorn Some of the biggest names in finance are betting big on the success of Greenwood, the digital banking platform introduced last year by co-founders Ryan Glover and rapper/activist Michael “Killer Mike” Render. The burgeoning fintech startup ā named for the early 20th century African-American business district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that earned the
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