An American university has agreed to an $852m (£620m) settlement with more than 700 women who have accused its former gynaecologist of sexual abuse. This is believed to be a record-breaking amount for such a lawsuit – and when combined with an earlier settlement of a separate class action lawsuit, the University of Southern California
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President Joe Biden has challenged the US to administer 200 million COVID vaccination doses by the end of his first 100 days in office. That is double the target of 100 million jabs he set in December and achieved earlier this month before his 60th day in office – an average of 2.5 million doses
A senior state official has become the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the US Senate. Rachel Levine, the former Pennsylvania Health Secretary, has been approved as the Biden administration’s assistant secretary of health. The vote on Wednesday went 52-48 in her favour, as two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan
AstraZeneca has defended its use of coronavirus vaccine data after US authorities suggested some results from a large American-led trial may have been based on “outdated information”. The Anglo-Swedish company said the study showed the jab was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 illness and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalisation. The trial of
The jury has been selected in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former US police officer accused of murdering George Floyd. Opening statements are due to begin in Minneapolis next week in a case described as one of the most important in the nation’s history. Fourteen jury members will hear the trial proceedings – 12
President Joe Biden has called for an assault weapon ban and the closure of background check loopholes, after the seventh mass killing this year in the US left 10 dead. In an address to the nation following the bloodshed at a supermarket in Colorado, the president said simply: “We must act.” And he called on
Jamie Foxx will play Mike Tyson in a TV series based on the former heavyweight boxing champion’s life and career, producers have said. The Oscar-winning actor joins movie legend Martin Scorsese and another Hollywood director, Antoine Fuqua, as executive producer. Fuqua, a filmmaker best-known for 2001 crime thriller Training Day, will also direct the limited
US police carrying out a drug raid have discovered a semi-automatic pistol disguised as a toy Nerf gun. The Glock pistol had a 50-round magazine, was painted blue and orange and had a Nerf logo similar to the toys made by Hasbro that fire foam darts or balls. Image: The discovery was made during a
Donald Trump plans to launch his own social media platform in two-three months’ time, it is claimed. Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump’s 2020 campaign, said the former president would be launching a social platform that stands to “completely redefine the game”. “I do think that we’re going to see President Trump returning to social
A serial stowaway is back in jail after being arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Marilyn Hartman was subject to a court order forbidding her from going anywhere near the airport. The 69-year-old’s electronic monitor was allegedly activated when she left the facility where she was staying, prompting officers to start tracking her movements. She
An emergency curfew has been imposed for Miami Beach as thousands gathered to celebrate spring break – with reports of fights breaking out. Revellers had been warned by US authorities to “vacation responsibly or be arrested”, as large crowds were seen in the streets with little social distancing and many not wearing masks. A text
Hundreds of people have gathered in Atlanta to support the Asian American community after six Asian women were killed in three spas in the city. In total, eight people were shot dead in Cherokee and Fulcon County on Tuesday. A man accused of the crimes, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, told police he had a sex
Racism is persistent and pervasive in America’s history and present, but what about its future? US correspondent Cordelia Lynch reflects on whether the US has reached a true turning point, with promises of institutional reform starting to come into effect, and the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin throwing George Floyd‘s tragic killing into the spotlight
Joe Biden is “just fine” after he fell up a flight of stairs as he boarded his presidential plane on Friday. The US president, 78, stumbled three times as he climbed the steps on to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland this morning. He and Vice President Kamala Harris were on their
US and Chinese officials have clashed during their first face-to-face meeting since Joe Biden became president. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi shared with reporters their sharply different views of each other and the world at the beginning of the two-day talks in Alaska. Relations between
President Joe Biden says his administration will meet his goal of giving 100 million vaccine shots on Friday – six weeks ahead of schedule. “I’m proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into our administration, we will have met our goal,” he said. The president’s original target had been to reach that milestone at 100
NASA’s Perseverance rover has sent back the first sounds of it driving on Mars – giving further insight into the Red Planet’s environment. The recording was captured by one of its two microphones and you can hear the noise of its six metal wheels driving across Mars’ surface. “Hear that? That’s the sound of me
A man accused of killing eight people at three spas in Atlanta has told police he had a sex addiction and was trying to eliminate the temptation he thought the businesses posed, say authorities. Robert Aaron Long, 21, was arrested and charged after seven women, six of whom were of Asian descent, and one man
Eight people have been killed in shootings at massage parlours in and around Atlanta, Georgia. A 21-year-old man suspected of carrying out all three shootings has been arrested. The attacks began around 5pm local time, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour in a strip mall near a rural area in Acworth,
Former US first lady Michelle Obama has said it “wasn’t a complete surprise” to hear the Duchess of Sussex’s claims of racism within the Royal Family. Mrs Obama described the allegations Meghan made during her interview with Oprah Winfrey as “heartbreaking to hear”. But speaking to NBC News, she said it wasn’t totally unexpected. “I