Tom Howell Jr.

Biden calls for more domestic production of rare minerals, says U.S. cannot depend on China

President Biden on Tuesday outlined plans to ramp up domestic mining, saying U.S. tech industries are too dependent on China for cobalt, lithium and other critical rare earth minerals.

February 22, 2022

Biden to outline plans to extract lithium, other minerals needed for greener economy

President Biden will announce Tuesday a series of public and private-sector investments to extract minerals such as cobalt, lithium and graphite that are needed for electric vehicles and other aspects of the global shift toward a "clean energy economy," the White House said.

February 22, 2022

Hong Kong orders mandatory testing in March to tackle COVID-19

Hong Kong residents must take three mandatory tests in March as part of efforts by the island city to rein in outbreaks that are testing China's zero-COVID policy, which employs strict lockdowns on the mainland.

February 22, 2022

Disease trackers wary of fast-moving offshoot of omicron

Scientists are warily watching a new, faster version of omicron even as the winter spike of the coronavirus subsides and states and cities rush to relax rules and fully reopen.

February 21, 2022

Ukraine, border countries tell EU to take firm action now against Russia

A top Ukrainian official on Monday said the European Union should hit Russia with some sanctions to show it is serious about punishing the Kremlin as it waits to see if Moscow invades Ukraine.

February 21, 2022

Australia reopens to international visitors after 704 days of pandemic rules

Travelers were greeted by D.J., drags queens and stuffed koala bears as Australia reopened to international visitors Monday after 704 days of pandemic restrictions.

February 20, 2022

Surgeon general says his whole family has COVID-19

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Friday he tested positive for COVID-19 along with the rest of his household, and used the experience to sympathize with other families who've fallen ill despite taking precautions.

February 18, 2022

Illinois lawmakers vote to remove GOP members who violate mask rule

Democratic lawmakers in Illinois have voted to oust nine Republicans from the state House after they refused to wear masks under the chamber's mandate.

February 18, 2022

VP Harris warns Russia of severe consequences if it invades Ukraine

Vice President Kamala Harris opened meetings at the Munich Security Conference on Friday by recommitting the U.S. to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and warning Russia it will face "severe consequences" if it invades Ukraine.

February 18, 2022

WHO announces mRNA transfer ‘hub’ to help Africa produce its own vaccines

The World Health Organization said Friday that six African countries will receive the technology and training needed to make messenger-RNA vaccines so they do not rely on donated shots to stave off COVID-19 and other diseases.

February 18, 2022

Corporate America relaxes mask rules, reopens offices as blue states relent on COVID-19 mandates

Corporate America is starting to allow workers to go maskless and ordering them back to the office as states and cities relax COVID-19 rules, signaling that the era of delayed re-openings is coming to an end and a tough period of negotiation over remote and "hybrid" work is starting.

February 17, 2022

Education Department cancels $415M in student debt, citing for-profit college fraud

The Education Department is canceling an additional $415 million in federal student loan debt for 16,000 borrowers who attended for-profit colleges and say they were defrauded by the institutions.

February 17, 2022

Brian Kemp holds 9-point lead over David Perdue in Georgia governor’s race: poll

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has a 9-point lead over former Sen. David Perdue in a gubernatorial race that is serving as a barometer for the power of former President Donald Trump's endorsements, according to a new poll.

February 17, 2022

NYC Mayor Eric Adams tells businesses to reopen offices

Mayor Eric Adams wants New York City to get back to work.

February 17, 2022

White House says changes to COVID-19 guidance, including masks, may come within weeks

The Biden administration signaled Wednesday that COVID-19 guidance could be relaxed in the coming weeks as businesses and state and local governments -- from Walt Disney World to city leaders in the nation's capital -- increasingly rush to lift indoor mask rules ahead of the federal government.

February 16, 2022

Teens seek out COVID-19 shots amid rifts with parents

The COVID-19 vaccines have been more than politically divisive: Sometimes a single household is split, prompting kids to tap state and local laws that allow minors to get vaccinated without parental consent.

February 16, 2022

Disney theme parks in California and Florida to ease mask rules Thursday

The Walt Disney theme parks in California and Florida will no longer require fully vaccinated visitors to wear masks, starting Thursday, as states and cities across the nation relax COVID-19 rules alongside the easing omicron wave.

February 16, 2022

China’s leader Xi Jinping increases pressure on Hong Kong officials to control COVID-19 outbreak

Chinese President Xi Jinping is urging Hong Kong Executive Carrie Lam to make controlling the COVID-19 outbreak in the island city her "overriding task," according to state-run newspapers.

February 15, 2022

Several GOP votes lift Califf as some Democrats buck Biden’s FDA pick

The Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Robert M. Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, overcoming vocal opposition from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III and other Democrats who said President Biden's pick was too cozy with the pharmaceutical industry.

February 15, 2022

Senate overcomes objections, passes bill to recognize Japanese American internment camp as historic

The Senate unanimously moved late Monday to establish a historic site at a former internment camp for Japanese Americans in Colorado, overcoming objections from a Utah senator to pass the bill ahead of the 80th anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to set up the camps during World War II.

February 15, 2022