News

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union says it will fund its new health preparedness and rapid response agency to the tune of 30 billion euros over the next six years. It’s even higher if individual efforts from the member nations and private sector are taken into account. The EU was

By SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s state-run National News agency says the lead judge investigating Lebanon’s massive port explosion last year has issued an arrest warrant for a former government minister who failed to show up for questioning. Youssef Fenianos, the former public works minister, is one of a number of

LONDON (AP) — British retailer Marks & Spencer is to close 11 of its stores in France, mainly in Paris, as a result of fresh and chilled food supply issues related to Britain’s departure from the European Union. The group blamed Brexit disruption to exports to Europe for its decision to shut all franchised shops

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Officials say more than 20 cats were killed when a fire broke out at an Orlando animal shelter. Orange County Fire Rescue found flames “through the roof” when they arrived at the center shortly after 10:21 p.m. Wednesday. Steve Bardy, who runs the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, called the fire

BERLIN (AP) — Scientists say the Southern Hemisphere ozone hole is larger than usual and already surpasses the size of Antarctica. The European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said Thursday that the ozone hole has grown considerably in the past week following an average start. Atmospheric ozone absorbs ultraviolet light coming from the sun. Its

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe has told all government employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or they will not be allowed to come to work. It wasn’t made clear what would happen to those who refused to be vaccinated. State-owned newspaper The Herald reported that the government would adopt a

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press Authorities say a Missouri police officer who graduated from the police academy in July has died after being shot by a wanted man who opened fire on officers and was also killed. The Independence Police Department announced late Wednesday that 22-year-old Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans died following the Wednesday morning shooting.

By JERRY HARMER Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Taxi fleets in Thailand are giving new meaning to the term “rooftop garden,” as they utilize the roofs of cabs idled by the coronavirus crisis to serve as small vegetable plots. Workers from two taxi cooperatives assembled the miniature gardens this week using black plastic garbage bags

CAIRO (AP) — A global human rights group has accused Egypt’s main domestic security agency of harassing and intimidating rights advocates and activists to silence them. The report was the latest rebuke to Egypt’s government, which faces increasing pressure from the U.S. to improve its human rights record. Amnesty International said in the report released

By VESELIN TOSHKOV Associated Press SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has reappointed a retired general as interim prime minister to lead a new caretaker government until the next early election is held in November. The Balkan country is the European Union’s poorest member. It is gearing up for its third parliamentary election