A new memo issued Wednesday by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urges all Pentagon employees and contractors to report suspected cases of “Havana Syndrome,” the mysterious neurological illness that emerged years ago among U.S. personnel in Cuba. The memo, which refers to the cases as “Anomalous Health Incidents,” said that …

The Biden administration has released its plan for combating the next pandemic, warning that a future pandemic could be even worse than COVID-19.  In a call with reporters, White House officials described an Apollo-like mission to coordinate all aspects of pandemic response in a centralized command. The administration’s plan, which …

The U.S. intelligence community remains divided about the origin of COVID-19, according to an unclassified summary of its 90-day investigation into the matter. All agencies agreed that two hypotheses are possible – natural exposure to an infected animal and a laboratory-associated incident.  But the report failed to draw a definitive …

The Biden administration will automatically wipe out federal student loan debt for borrowers who have a total and permanent disability, as it has done for veterans with a severe disability, meaning more than 323,000 borrowers who receive more than $5.8 billion in automatic student loan discharges.  The federal government currently …

An Arkansas judge on Friday temporarily blocked the state from enforcing its ban on mask mandates after lawmakers left the prohibition in place, even as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise.  Earlier this week, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he wished the law he signed could be undone, in particular, so …

Boost Mobile and Fresno State women’s basketball twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder. Smoothie King and Louisiana State University and quarterback Myles Brennan. 1-800-Got-Junk and Kansas University hoops star Mitch Lightfoot.  Companies large and small have wasted no time finding college athletes for sponsorship deals, just weeks after the NCAA granted them …

President Biden is imposing sanctions on the head of the Cuban military and the division of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior to “hold them accountable for the actions,” he announced in a statement Thursday afternoon. And the president said this is “just the beginning” of sanctions.  Mr. Biden said …

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is making it easier to see smiles again, but guests still can’t hug the characters. Starting Tuesday, face masks will be optional for visitors to the theme park resort who are vaccinated, though Disney workers won’t require proof of vaccination, the company said on …

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka announced Wednesday that she will not take part in any press conferences during the upcoming French Open. The No. 2-ranked women’s tennis player announced her decision across social media platforms, saying she wanted to focus on her mental health. “I’ve often felt that people …

Chet Holmgren, the nation’s top high school recruit in the class of 2021, will play for the Gonzaga men’s basketball team next season, he announced Monday. The 7-foot, 190-pound center is also considered a favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Holmgren, 18, claimed several …