US Senate vote gives Democrats control of workplace bias agency

(This July 13 story has been corrected to fix the spelling of ‘Kalpana Kotagal’ in paragraph 2) By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed President Joe Biden’s nominee to the agency that enforces workplace bias laws, giving Democrats a majority on the five-member panel that would allow it to enforce pro-worker polices…

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World’s biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East thaws as planet warms

BATAGAI, Russia (Reuters) – Stunning drone footage has revealed details of the Batagaika crater, a one kilometre long gash in Russia’s Far East that forms the world’s biggest permafrost crater. In the video two explorers clamber across uneven terrain at the base of the depression, marked by irregular surfaces and small hummocks, which began to…

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FBI chief Wray defends against US House Republicans’ accusations

(This July 12 story has been refiled to add a dropped letter in paragraph 1) By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – FBI Director Chris Wray rejected Republicans’ wide-ranging criticism at a congressional hearing on Wednesday that targeted everything from the bureau’s handling of a probe into Hunter Biden to claims it encouraged social media…

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Tornado damage at Pfizer N.C. plant was mostly at warehouse, CEO says

By Michael Erman and David Ljunggren (Reuters) -Most of the tornado damage at Pfizer Inc’s Rocky Mount, North Carolina plant was to the warehouse and not manufacturing facilities, CEO Albert Bourla said on Friday, easing concerns about long-term drug shortages from the plant. The tornado that struck the site on Wednesday completely destroyed the warehouse,…

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Trial in Trump classified documents case set for May 2024 -court document

By Jacqueline Thomsen WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President Donald Trump’s trial over his alleged mishandling of classified documents will begin on May 20 next year, according to a U.S. court order on Friday. Trump’s lawyers had resisted setting a date but said any trial should take place after the November 2024 U.S. presidential election, in which…

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