CDC's COVID-19 mask guidelines to loosen Friday, AP sources say

The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Russia sanctions: A look at Biden administration's toughest penalties

The East-West faceoff over Ukraine has escalated dramatically, with Russian lawmakers authorizing President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country and President Joe Biden and European leaders responding by slapping sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks.

UN security council to hold emergency meeting amid Ukraine crisis

A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.

US: Biden agrees to meet Putin if Russia halts Ukraine invasion

The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden has agreed “in principle” to a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as long as he holds off on launching an assault that U.S. officials warn appears increasingly more likely.

Biden aims to cut cancer deaths by 50% over next 25 years with moonshot initiative

President Joe Biden is relaunching his “Cancer Moonshot” initiative with a goal of reducing cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years and to ”end cancer as we know it.”

Ghost Army: Secret WWII tactical unit to receive Congressional Gold Medal

The Ghost Army refers to two units that used inflatable equipment, sound effects, radio trickery, and other deceptions to draw enemy forces away from American units, saving an estimated 30,000 lives.

Biden urges employers to 'do the right thing' after Supreme Court blocks vaccine mandate

President Biden appealed to U.S. companies “to do the right thing to protect Americans’ health and economy” after the Supreme Court blocked the vaccine mandate.

Supreme Court blocks COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US businesses

The Supreme Court has stopped the Biden administration from enforcing a requirement that employees at large businesses be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing and wear a mask on the job.

COVID-19 test giveaway: How Biden plans to distribute 500M kits for free

President Joe Biden says the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free of charge to people to use at home.

Biden signs bill blocking Chinese goods made by forced labor

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is the latest in a series of intensifying U.S. penalties against China for alleged abuses.

AP Review: Far too little voter fraud in Michigan, other battleground states to tip 2020 election

A review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states where former President Donald Trump disputed the results yielded a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 election.

Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell among Kennedy Center honorees

Honorees include Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.

Racism is a 'public health threat,' Biden says in new HIV/AIDS strategy

In its new HIV/AIDS strategy released Wednesday on the annual commemoration of World AIDS Day, the Biden administration is calling racism “a public health threat” that must be fully recognized as the world looks to end the epidemic.