How variants like omicron develop and what makes them variants 'of concern'

The World Health Organization classified a new variant first identified in southern Africa as a "variant of concern" on Friday.

The identification of a new Covid "variant of concern," dubbed omicron, sparked countries to quickly roll out new travel restrictions as scientists work to understand the implications of the discovery.

On Friday, the World Health Organization said that preliminary evidence…

U.S. to restrict travel from South Africa, seven other nations amid new Covid variant

The new strain, classified by the WHO as a "variant of concern," is blamed for a surge of cases in South Africa and has sparked fears over its high number of mutations.

The U.S. will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries, effective Monday — a response to the emerging and newly-named "Omicron" variant of Covid-19, President Joe Biden said Friday.

The policy, senior…

Georgia teens become unlikely warriors in redistricting fight

They're juggling finals and extracurriculars with special legislative sessions and injecting an unusual level of youth engagement into a typically wonky insiders' political routine.

At 13 years old, DJ Horton can’t vote or even drive a car, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a prominent voice in Georgia’s redistricting process.

The middle school student and aspiring politician from Gwinnett County…

Three men found guilty in death of Ahmaud Arbery

The men were charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony.

Three white men were found guilty Wednesday of felony murder in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was running in their neighborhood when the defendants confronted him last year.

The nearly all-white jury convicted Travis McMichael of malice murder, felony murder,…

Biden administration to tap oil reserves in bid to tamp down rising gas prices

The decision was made jointly with other major energy consuming countries as oil-rich nations continue to ignore requests to ramp up production to pre-pandemic levels.

The Biden administration is taking the rare step of releasing oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to address rising gas prices ahead of the holiday season, the White House said in a statement…

Thanksgiving week will feature some rain, a little snow and a whole lot of cold

Fast-moving bursts of rain and snow could cause minor delays for holiday travelers, but the gusty winds and bitterly cold temperatures will impact the most people.

On Monday morning, a cold front sliced through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and bringing with it light showers and some gusty winds to portions of the I-95 corridor.

It was fast-moving, with all rain projected to be off the Atlantic…

5 dead, more than 40 injured after SUV slams into Wisconsin Christmas parade

Investigators are looking into whether the driver was fleeing an earlier incident involving a knife fight.

A Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, turned into a scene of deadly horror when a red SUV plowed into a crowd on the city's Main Street late Sunday.

At least five people were killed and more than 40 others were injured, according to officials in the suburban Milwaukee city. Those…

Desperate for cash, Afghan families are selling young daughters into marriage

“He will just take her hand and take her away from me,” one father said of his 8-year-old. “He will take her away and say, ‘She’s ours now.’”

SHAIDAI, Afghanistan — Bashful, with long locks of rust-colored hair dyed with henna, Benazir fidgets with a handful of gravel when the topic of her marriage comes up.

She looks down at the ground and buries her head in her knees when she is asked whether…

Fueled by Trump-inspired grievance, attempts to terrorize public officials escalateFueled by Trump-inspired grievance, attempts to terrorize public officials escalate

tifying exactly how dangerous things have become is a challenge, but even elections officials — a less prominent rung of public service that is nonetheless central to democracy — are reporting threats.

And officials with the Capitol Police, the agency responsible for protecting members of Congress, have said they expect…

Desperate for cash, Afghan families are selling young daughters into marriage

“He will just take her hand and take her away from me,” one father said of his 8-year-old. “He will take her away and say, ‘She’s ours now.’”

SHAIDAI, Afghanistan — Bashful, with long locks of rust-colored hair dyed with henna, Benazir fidgets with a handful of gravel when the topic of her marriage comes up.

She looks down at the ground and buries her head in her knees when asked if she knows…

Dutch police open fire on Covid lockdown protesters as European nations reintroduce restrictions

Police opened fire on anti-lockdown protesters in the Dutch city of Rotterdam Friday ahead of demonstrations in several European cities against new Covid restrictions.

Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters about police officers "felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves" more than once after protesters tore through the city's central shopping district, setting…

A year later, protesters injured by police are still trying to heal

Rickia Young, a 29-year-old nurse’s aide, clearly remembers the moment police officers swarmed her car in West Philadelphia last year. She heard one window shatter, then another. Not only was she worried for her own safety, but Young said she feared for her toddler son’s life.

“The cops were banging and yelling, ‘Get the f--- out of the car!’” Young recalled. “They were trying to bust all of the windows out. I…

House passes Biden's $1.7 trillion social safety net and climate package

The Build Back Better bill now heads to the Senate, where it’s likely to undergo some changes in order to win the support of all 50 Democratic-voting members.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House passed sweeping legislation Friday aimed at expanding the social safety net and tackling climate change, a major step that moves a top legislative priority of President Joe Biden closer to his…

Democrats postpone Build Back Better vote after GOP leader stalls with hourslong speech

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy held the floor for hours with a speech railing against the legislation and Biden's policies.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats postponed a much-anticipated vote on President Joe Biden's social safety net and climate package early Friday morning after Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delayed a final vote with a long, wide-ranging and often angry speech.

The…

Democrats postpone Build Back Better vote after GOP leader stalls with hourslong speech

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy held the floor for hours with a speech railing against the legislation and Biden's policies.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats postponed a much-anticipated vote on President Joe Biden's social safety net and climate package early Friday morning after Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delayed a final vote with a long, wide-ranging and often angry speech.

The…