Vaccination rates have lagged among US police, even as Covid becomes their leading cause of death.
Read moreBy Holly Honderich
BBC News, Washington
BBC News US & Canada
Alec Baldwin fatally shoots woman with prop gun
A man is also being treated in hospital after the firearm was discharged on set in New Mexico.
Top Stories
Alec Baldwin fatally shoots woman with prop gun
A man is also being treated in hospital after the firearm was discharged on set in New Mexico.
Fiancé wanted in US blogger's murder is found dead
A skull was reportedly found in the hunt for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in Gabby Petito's death.
House backs contempt charge for ex-Trump adviser
Only nine Republicans in the chamber voted to hold Mr Bannon in contempt.
Canadians hurt slipping in snow can now sue cities
The Supreme Court rules in favour of a woman who was injured climbing a snowbank in British Columbia.
Vikings beat Columbus to the Americas by 471 years
Scientists say they have precisely dated a camp in Newfoundland, Canada, thanks to a new technique.
Family died from hyperthermia on California hike
The family of three and their dog were found dead on a trail in Devil's Gulch Valley two months ago.
NFL to end race-based testing in dementia claims
"Race-norming" made it harder for black players to prove brain injuries linked to their careers.
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Alec Baldwin fatally shoots woman with prop gun
A man is also being treated in hospital after the firearm was discharged on set in New Mexico.
Fiancé wanted in US blogger's murder is found dead
A skull was reportedly found in the hunt for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in Gabby Petito's death.
House backs contempt charge for ex-Trump adviser
Only nine Republicans in the chamber voted to hold Mr Bannon in contempt.
Canadians hurt slipping in snow can now sue cities
The Supreme Court rules in favour of a woman who was injured climbing a snowbank in British Columbia.
Vikings beat Columbus to the Americas by 471 years
Scientists say they have precisely dated a camp in Newfoundland, Canada, thanks to a new technique.
Family died from hyperthermia on California hike
The family of three and their dog were found dead on a trail in Devil's Gulch Valley two months ago.
NFL to end race-based testing in dementia claims
"Race-norming" made it harder for black players to prove brain injuries linked to their careers.
Fiancé wanted in US blogger's murder is found dead
A skull was reportedly found in the hunt for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in Gabby Petito's death.
House backs contempt charge for ex-Trump adviser
Only nine Republicans in the chamber voted to hold Mr Bannon in contempt.
Canadians hurt slipping in snow can now sue cities
The Supreme Court rules in favour of a woman who was injured climbing a snowbank in British Columbia.
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Video caption: Death after Alec Baldwin fires prop gun 'unfathomable' A director who worked with Halyna Hutchins in 2020 describes the gun safety protocols films tend to use.
By Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, Washington
By Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online
US indicts Black Axe gang over romance scams
Copyright: Getty ImagesThe US justice department says it has indicted seven leaders of the Nigeria-headquartered Black Axe gang for running internet dating scams from South Africa.
An eighth person, suspected of conspiring with a gang leader, had also has been indicted, it said in a statement.
The eight were arrested in South Arica, following a massive international operation involving the FBI and Interpol.
The US is expected to request their extradition.
The Black Axe - also known as the Neo-Black Movement of Africa - was headquartered in Benin City in southern Nigeria, the justice department said.
"The Black Axe is organized into regional chapters known as 'zones' and the defendants were all leaders within the Cape Town, South Africa, Zone," it added.
Its leaders were also known by names such as Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Lord Samuel S Nujoma, an apparent reference to the former Presidents of South Africa and Namibia respectively.
The gang operated from Cape Town from at least 2011, engaging in "widespread internet fraud involving romance scams and advance fee schemes", the justice department said.
"The conspirators used social media websites, online dating websites, and voice over internet protocol phone numbers to find and talk with victims in the United States, while using a number of aliases," it added.
The accused have asked for bail in South Africa, and a full hearing is due to be held next week.
South African authorities have indicated that they would oppose the request.
By Sammy Jenkins
Reporter
By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
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Video caption: God and robots: Will AI transform religion? Robot "priests" can recite prayers, perform funerals, and even comfort those experiencing a spiritual crisis.
