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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is directing commanding officers and supervisors throughout the military to institute a one-day stand-down within the next 60 days to address concerns of extremism within the armed forces.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Signs Military 'Stand Down' Memo To Address Extremism

Austin has ordered the armed forces to stand down for one day to address concerns over extremism in the ranks — an issue that has drawn renewed concern in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The Biden administration is reversing the Trump policy of withdrawing from the U.N. Human Rights Council, which is seen here meeting in Geneva. The council's members include China, Russia, Eritrea and other countries where human rights abuses have repeatedly been found.

Biden Orders U.S. To Reengage With U.N. Human Rights Council 'Immediately'

The change is part of the president's plan to reshape U.S. foreign policy to center "on democracy, human rights, and equality," Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.

Flat Matt, Falling Lemons And Digital Dolly: The 2021 Super Bowl Ads

Super Bowl LV was Sunday, and as always, a lot of viewers tuned in for the over-the-top ads. Bud Light and Robinhood were standouts, but Dolly Parton fell flat with a rework of her hit "9 to 5."

A picture taken on July 19, 2020, shows a screen broadcasting the launch of the "Hope" Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. "Hope" — Al-Amal in Arabic — is expected to start orbiting Mars this week, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE.

Hope Heads For A Rendezvous With Mars

The UAE probe arrives at Mars on Tuesday, Feb 9. Its purpose is to both study the weather on Mars as well as inspire the next generation of that country's scientists and engineers.

Sgt. Alice White has been with the Minneapolis Police Department since 2004. She's one of four officers profiled in the documentary <em>Women in Blue,</em> on the PBS Independent Lens series.

Documentary Asks: Do 'Women In Blue' Police Differently Than Male Officers?

Sgt. Alice White says female officers tend to rely on "brain muscle" instead of physical power. White is profiled in Deirdre Fishel's new documentary about women in the Minneapolis Police Department.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., faces a tricky balancing act: managing the ideological divides of a 50-50 Democratic majority while also running for his own reelection.

Schumer Faces Pressure From The Left To Deliver As Majority Leader

Progressives are watching the new Senate majority leader to see if he can deliver on some of the party's most ambitious legislative goals. If not, they say he could face a primary challenge next year.

Texas Republican Rep. Ron Wright battled both cancer and COVID-19, and became the first sitting lawmaker to die from the virus on Sunday.

Rep. Ron Wright Is 1st Member Of Congress To Die After Coronavirus Diagnosis

The Texas Republican died after he tested positive for the coronavirus more than two weeks ago. Wright had remained in isolation and was also being treated for cancer.

WNC COVID-19 Updates: Week Of Feb. 8

Looking for information about where to get vaccinated near you? North Carolina Health News has a comprehensive listing of county vaccines sites, which…

After a small study raised concerns about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the variant in South Africa, the country put its AstraZeneca vaccine plans on hold. "It is time, unfortunately, for us to recalibrate our expectation of COVID-19 vaccines," said Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of Witwatersrand, shown above at a vaccine trial facility.

Why South Africa Is Putting The AstraZeneca Vaccine On Hold

A study raised concerns about its effectiveness against the coronavirus variant sweeping through the country — although the data is too preliminary for definitive conclusions.

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. They gathered to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. A pro-Trump mob later stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Five people died as a result.

Timeline: What Trump Told Supporters For Months Before They Attacked

The record shows at least eight months of incendiary statements from then-President Trump and others close to him leading up to the insurrection at the Capitol.

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