| | | | | | The loudest voices in the abortion debate are often characterized along a starkly religious divide, the faithful versus not. But the reality is much more nuanced, both at an Alabama abortion clinic and in the nation that surrounds it. The clinic's staff of 11 — most of them Black, deeply faithful Christian women — have no trouble at all reconciling their work with their religion. And as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to dismantle the constitutional right to an abortion, they draw on their faith that they will somehow continue. God is on our side, they tell each other. God will keep this clinic open. | | | | | | Social media users shared a range of false claims this week. Here are the facts: A photo identified as showing a "doorway" cut into a mountainside on Mars actually captures a tiny crevice in the rocky, barren terrain. U.S. proposals to the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations would not transfer U.S. sovereign authority over health care decisions to the WHO director-general. There were several combat deaths among U.S. service members in Afghanistan during Trump's presidency, and an investment by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates' firm did not cause the recent baby formula shortage. | | | | | | The top U.S. trade negotiator says with world economies all suffering from more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic and global supply problems exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United States has an "incredible opportunity" to engage with other nations and forge new partnerships and agreements. Ahead of a planned announcement with President Joe Biden of a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told The Associated Press that the time is ripe for the proposal. She says: "I don't think anybody's economy is stronger because of COVID and there is a pretty pervasive sense of anxiety about how we recover. I actually think that this presents an incredible opportunity." | | | | | | For people and groups planning to stay in Atlantic City, the resort's main union for casino workers is warning that "labor disputes" could occur if the casinos don't agree to new contracts by a May 31 deadline. Local 54 of the Unite Here union set up a website listing other hotels that have union contracts in place that travelers might want to consider using if picketing or a strike occur. The move comes at the start of what will be a crucial season for Atlantic City's casinos in the third year of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. | | | | | | The Group of Seven wealthy democracies has announced plans to strengthen epidemiological early-warning systems to detect infectious diseases with pandemic potential. Germany's health minister said Friday that an existing World Health Organization office in Berlin would be used to gather and analyze data more quickly. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the G-7 also wants to increase compulsory contributions to WHO by 50% in the long term to ensure the U.N. agency can perform fulfill its global leadership role. The ministers who met in Germany's capital this week separately agreed to better protect the global population from the health impacts of global warming by making adaptation to climate change part of medical training. | | | | | | Now that he can travel again, Peter Greenberg is resuming "The Royal Tour," a two-decade-long series that shows off the best tourist spots of a given country. The gimmick? The nation's leader is the tour guide. In the most recent episode, President Samia Suluhu Hassan shows the veteran travel journalist — and his viewers — the sights and sounds of the African nation of Tanzania. National leaders cede editorial control and take Greenberg around their country. In return they get an hour-long special that offers exposure to millions of rich and curious travelers. Hassan came to the United States to screen her country's episode of "The Royal Tour." | | | | | | Wall Street is pointing toward gains before the opening bell after a surprise interest rate cut from China relieved investors anxious about a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. Futures for the Dow Industrial Average are up 1% Friday and the S&P 500 rose 1.2%. Major benchmarks will need much bigger gains by the close to avoid a seventh straight week of losses for markets shaken by rising interest rates, a global pandemic and war in Ukraine. Shares in Europe and Asia also rose. Major U.S. benchmarks are down around 3% for the week heading into Friday trading. | | | | | | FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A bill that would allow families in a U.S. government assistance program to buy whatever brand of baby formula they can find is on the way to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. | | | | | | |
