H&M, Nike and other big Western apparel brands are facing a boycott in China because of the stand they’ve taken against the alleged use of forced labor to produce cotton in the country’s western region of Xinjiang. H&M and Nike said months ago they were concerned about allegations forced labor has been used to produce
Continue ReadingChina has issued more retaliatory sanctions over Xinjiang, targeting individuals and entities in the United Kingdom it says “maliciously spread lies and disinformation” regarding Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims. In a statement Friday, China’s foreign ministry said the UK had “imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity, citing the so-called human rights issues
Continue ReadingShipping experts believe it could take days or even weeks to free the 224,000-ton vessel that is wedged across the Suez Canal, blocking one of the world’s busiest waterways since Tuesday. The Ever Given, a container ship almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall, ran aground on March 23 after being caught
Continue ReadingOne of the world’s most vital trade arteries has been blocked by a quarter-mile-long container ship, creating a traffic jam that has ensnared over 200 vessels and could take weeks to clear. But even before the Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal earlier this week, global supply chains were being stretched to the
Continue ReadingFive years after the death of conservative hero Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court justices continue to joust over who among them is truly preserving — or, alternatively, disserving — his legacy. Their moves will help define how the court’s six conservatives differentiate themselves from one another in cases and set the course of the nation’s law.
Continue ReadingA tanker carrying oil docked at Hodeidah port in Yemen on Thursday — the first such ship to berth this year in the country’s Houthi-controlled north, where fuel is desperately needed to distribute food and to keep the country’s hospitals from shuttering. The arrival of the ship, the Gabon-registered Thuruya, follows a UN announcement on
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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 before Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed it Thursday evening. By
Continue ReadingAt least five people have died as a wave of tornadoes ripped through the southern US yesterday. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) 1. Voting rights
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Virtual instruction may pose more risks to the mental health and wellness of children and parents than in-person learning, according to a study published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More support may be needed to deal with the effects of the pandemic. Parents whose children received virtual instruction or a
Continue Reading Passover begins this Saturday, and Easter will soon be upon us. As more people are getting vaccinated, people are wondering what activities are safe. Is it OK for fully vaccinated people to get together for a Seder or Easter brunch? What about families gathering when some are vaccinated but others aren’t yet? Before we start
Continue ReadingWith its eight legs wrapped around itself as if in a hug and its eye pupils narrowed to a slit, the octopus breathes evenly, its body a uniform whitish gray. Moments later it begins to change color — a mesmerizing shift between burnt orange and rust red. Its eyes, muscles and sucker pads twitching as
Continue ReadingJeffrey Mezger is a 40-year veteran of the real estate industry. He’s never seen a stronger housing market than this one. “It’s crazy. There is no inventory,” the CEO of KB Home told CNN Business. For wannabe buyers, the shortage of homes on the market, combined with a surge of competition from other purchasers is
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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 two consecutive weeks,
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Two separate groups of lawmakers are traveling to Texas on Friday to spotlight the surge of unaccompanied children crossing the US-Mexico border in recent weeks. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas are leading a delegation of 17 Republican senators on Friday to tour a US Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas,
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Joe Biden offered his most expansive explanation yet of his own presidency on Thursday, presenting himself, at least for now, as a problem solver operating above the bitter divides of Washington politics. In his first formal news conference, Biden sketched his goals and reflected on the mission he was assigned by American voters in the
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The White House is rounding out its press operation, adding a veteran Capitol Hill aide as President Joe Biden prepares to launch his next major agenda push. Emilie Simons will join the White House as an assistant press secretary after working for members in both chambers of Congress, most recently as the communications director for
Continue ReadingAn attempt to enforce an emergency curfew on spring breakers at Miami Beach last weekend devolved into chaos. But this weekend, city officials say they’re prepared. Authorities have extended a curfew and state of emergency in the Florida city. Restrictions include an 8 p.m. curfew in the entertainment district, a series of road closures aimed
Continue Reading The Internal Revenue Service has sent roughly 127 million stimulus payments out in the past two weeks, but some of the lowest-income Social Security recipients are among those still waiting to get the money. The delay affects those who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board benefits, and Veterans Affairs pensioners. They will
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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 on the scene
Continue ReadingThe man charged with killing 10 people in a Boulder grocery store has been moved out of county jail after officers became aware of “threats toward him” from other inmates, a jail official told CNN. The suspected gunman, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, was relocated early Wednesday morning, according to Jeff Goetz, Division Chief of the
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