AP National News

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The bodies of 16 Kurdish migrants who drowned as they tried to cross the English Channel last month have been repatriated to northern Iraq. The Nov. 24 disaster, in which 27 migrants died, has been described as the worst on record involving migrants trying to cross the English Channel. The boat

By ANGELA CHARLTON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — France recorded more than 100,000 virus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic struck and COVID-19 hospitalizations have doubled over the past month. More than 1,000 people in France with the virus died over the past week, bringing the overall death toll

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — A central Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year due to declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte was founded in 1800 and held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve. The church was

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian artists and event organizers have joined together to protest the government’s decision to close down most concerts, cinemas and theaters to stem the spread of the surging omicron variant. The culture industry feels unfairly targeted by the new measures, which were announced Wednesday and took effect on Sunday. Events like Christmas

By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply for reimbursement from the federal government for up to $9,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has spent nearly $1.5 billion on funeral reimbursements since Jan. 20, 2020, the date of

NEW YORK (AP) — The celebratory last runs of vintage New York City subway cars could be in jeopardy because of vandalism. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced recently it would run one train of the 1960s-era cars on four Sundays beginning Dec. 19 before they are put on display at the New York Transit Museum.

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana researchers have identified 14 new species of shrews on an Indonesian island where seven in that genus were previously known. Louisiana State University associate professor of biology Jake Esselstyn led 10 years of trips to the island of Sulawesi to collect the insect-eating mammals. The

ROMEO, Mich. (AP) — An animal shelter in Michigan has been inundated with hundreds of parakeets. The Detroit Animal Welfare Group in Romeo said in a Facebook post that the small, colorful birds were dropped off Thursday night. Director Kelley LeBonty told the Detroit Free Press that the son of an animal hoarder called to

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria has started requiring a “vaccine passport” to enter a broad range of public venues. It’s an effort to boost the country’s low inoculation rate and overcome vaccine hesitancy that has left millions of vaccines unused. The pass is now required for anyone entering or leaving Algeria, as well as for

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear. The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills within five

By ANDREW MELDRUM Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, has died at 90. Tutu was an uncompromising foe of apartheid, South Africa’s brutal regime of oppression against its Black majority. Tutu worked passionately and non-violently for its downfall. The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman

MEVO HAMA, Golan Heights (AP) — Israel says it plans to double the amount of settlers living in the Golan Heights and invest hundreds of millions of dollars developing the area. The plan would further consolidate Israel’s hold on the territory it captured from Syria more than five decades ago. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his demand for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his demand for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet

MEVO HAMA, Golan Heights (AP) — Israel says it plans to double the amount of settlers living in the Golan Heights. The move would further consolidate Israel’s hold on the territory it captured from Syria more than five decades ago. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made the announcement Sunday at a special Cabinet session being held

PARIS (AP) — France recorded more than 100,000 virus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic struck and COVID-19 hospitalizations have doubled over the past month. More than 1,000 people in France with the virus died over the past week, bringing the overall death toll to more than 122,000. The

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is seeking to encourage married couples. He has penned a special letter on a Catholic feast day acknowledging that the pandemic has aggravated some family problems but urging couples to seek help. He says they should always remember three key words in a marriage: “Please,

By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — Libya’s Red Crescent says at least 27 bodies of Europe-bound migrants, including a baby and two women, have washed ashore in the country’s west. It says the bodies were found late Saturday in two separate locations in the coastal town of Khoms. Three other migrants were rescued