News

By LAUREN WEBER and ANNA MARIA BARRY-JESTER KHN (Kaiser Health News) A review of hundreds of pieces of legislation across the United States shows that Republican legislators in more than half of the states are taking away the powers state and local officials use to protect the public against infectious diseases. The review conducted by

By DANICA KIRKA and PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The U.K. posted the biggest jump in annual inflation on record last month as global supply shortages and rising wages magnified the scale of price increases after pandemic-related discounts a year ago. The Office for National Statistics says consumer price inflation accelerated to 3.2%

LONDON (AP) — A British woman who ran away from home at age 15 to join the Islamic State group in Syria has asked for forgiveness and appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to let her come home. Shamima Begum was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria in 2015. She is

By EMILY WANG FUJIYAMA Associated Press QUESHAN, China (AP) — China has emphasized its role in United Nations peacekeeping operations with its hosting of multinational exercises that ended Wednesday. The 10 day-long drills in the central province of Henan featured around 1,000 troops from China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand. They practiced armed escorts, security patrols,

By NICOLE WINFIELD and KAREL JANICEK Associated Press SASTIN, Slovakia (AP) — Pope Francis has urged Slovakians look out for the neediest among them as he wraps up a four-day pilgrimage to the central European country. Cheering, maskless crowds lined Francis’ motorcade route to the national shrine at Sastin. They were rewarded with a slow-moving popemobile

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The economic ravages of COVID-19 are forcing some families in Zimbabwe to abandon the age-old tradition of taking care of their older people. Some roam the streets. The lucky ones end up at facilities for older people. They were once widely viewed by many Zimbabweans as

PARIS (AP) — Emergency workers have rescued or evacuated hundreds of people in southern France as flash flooding abruptly turned roads and fields into rivers and lakes. The regional emergency service said rescuers were searching for at least one person reported missing in flooding Tuesday evening. No casualties have been reported. But local authorities said

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — One of China’s biggest real estate developers is struggling to avoid defaulting on billions of dollars of debt, prompting concern about broader impacts and protests by apartment buyers over delays in completing projects. Rating agencies say Evergrande Group looks likely to be unable to repay all

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is committing 200 million more vaccine doses to Africa to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that the new donation comes on top of 250 million already committed and underscores the EU resolve

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP Political Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — A defiant Republican Larry Elder conceded his fight to become California’s next governor with a provocative hint about his political future: “Stay tuned.” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom easily beat back a recall effort to remove him from office. Elder then told cheering supporters Tuesday

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian police say a fugitive walked into a Sydney police station to give himself up almost 30 years after he used a hacksaw blade and bolt cutters to escape from prison. Darko Desic lived in a Sydney beach community during those years before surrendering Sunday morning.

By OLEG CETINIC and THOMAS ADAMSON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Health care workers in France face suspension from their jobs if they haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are compulsory for health care and emergency workers in France and Wednesday is the deadline for such staff to have had at least one. They face