Month: January 2022

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — There were more than 7 million new cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 across Europe in the first week of January, more than doubling in just two weeks, the World Health Organization. In a press briefing on Tuesday, WHO’s Europe director Dr. Hans Kluge said 26 countries in its region

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE, COLLEEN LONG and JEFF AMY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will use a speech in Georgia to endorse changing Senate filibuster rules that have stalled voting rights legislation, saying it’s time to choose “democracy over autocracy.” But some civil rights groups won’t be there, in protest of what they

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations is making what it calls a record $5 billion appeal to help Afghanistan and its neighboring countries. The world body warns that half of the country faces acute hunger, millions of children are out of school and farmers are struggling against drought even as Afghanistan stabilizes from decades of

MADRID (AP) — A spat over factory farming is causing tension in Spain’s left-of-center coalition government. The farm minister on Tuesday described the consumer minister’s criticism of the country’s livestock industry as “very unfortunate.” Consumer Minister Alberto Garzón told British newspaper The Guardian in an interview last month that intensive cattle production is “unsustainable,” damages

By CARA ANNA Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Local authorities say an Ethiopian drone strike has killed 17 civilians in the country’s Tigray region on the day that President Joe Biden during a call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed concern about such attacks in the ongoing war. A report by the zonal administration

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — The World Economic Forum says cyberthreats and the growing space race are emerging risks to the global economy, on top of existing challenges posed by climate change and the coronavirus pandemic. The Global Risks Report released Tuesday usually comes out ahead of the annual elite winter

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing more allegations that he and his staff flouted lockdown rules, this time by holding a garden party in 2020 while Britons were barred by law from mingling outside the home. Opposition politicians called for a police investigation after broadcaster ITV

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — A report based on U.S. trade data shows American companies are still importing teak from Myanmar despite sanctions imposed after the military seized power. Teak is one of the most valuable hardwoods, used in yachts, home flooring and in expensive furniture. U.S. importers were still receiving

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The Serbian Orthodox Church says the Patriarch, Porfirije, has tested positive for COVID-19. The church said on Tuesday that Porfirije has developed “very mild symptoms of the virus infection” and remains in home isolation. He is in contact “through electronic communications” with his associates and performs administrative duties entirely without problems,

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — European benchmarks have risen after Asian shares mostly declined following a retreat on Wall Street. Oil prices and U.S. futures advanced on Tuesday. Investors are keeping an eye on rising numbers of coronavirus cases, especially in China, where a third city has locked down its residents