AP National News

Latest: Alaska has new daily high in coronavirus infections

AP

by Rayos Syndication User

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska is reporting its highest number of new coronavirus cases a day after the state’s largest hospital announced it had entered crisis protocol and started rationing care because of a flood of COVID-19 cases. Officials on Wednesday reported 1,068 new virus infections, which is 13% higher than last week. State officials say 201 Alaskans are hospitalized for…

The Latest: Taliban order Afghan squatters in Kandahar out

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Impoverished Afghans living in a long-abandoned military compound in the southern city of Kandahar say they’re devastated by the Taliban order to expel them from their homes. Several hundred staged a rally against the order on Monday, saying they have nowhere else to go and that they had years ago paid former Afghan soldiers under the table…

Largest colleges push student vaccines with mandates, prizes

By AMY DiPIERRO and PAT EATON-ROBB - Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

An AP analysis shows that 26 of 50 largest public university campuses in the U.S. are not mandating that students receive vaccinations against the coronavirus. Approaches on enforcement vary widely even among universities that do have vaccine mandates: some offer leniency for students who opt out, and others expel those who do not comply. As a new semester begins amid a resurgence of the coronavirus, administrators are emphasizing high numbers for student vaccinations to bring normalcy back to campus and keep instruction in classrooms rather than online. Where mandates face political opposition, schools are relying on incentives and outreach to get more students vaccinated. 

The Latest: Afghan women soccer players enter Pakistan

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

ISLAMABAD— Members of Afghanistan’s women soccer team and their families arrived in Pakistan after fleeing their country in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover, local media said Wednesday. It was unclear how many Afghan women players and their family members were allowed to enter in Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry, the Afghan women soccer players entered in…

Latest: Alaska’s biggest hospital begins rationing treatment

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s largest hospital has begun rationing care, saying it has been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. Providence Alaska Medical Center said Tuesday it will prioritize resources and treatment to those patients who have the potential to benefit the most. Dr. Kristen Solana Walkinshaw is chief of staff at the hospital and says that “we are no longer able…

Latest: Australia’s capital extends lockdown until Oct. 15

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s capital city of Canberra will remain locked down for a second month after the local government reported 22 new coronavirus infections. The Australian Capital Territory locked down Aug. 12 after a single case linked to a Sydney outbreak of the virus’ delta variant was detected. Territorial Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Tuesday that Canberra’s lockdown will…

The Latest: UN says $1.2B pledged to help Afghans in need

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

The U.N. humanitarian chief says $1.2 billion has been promised to help Afghans facing a growing humanitarian crisis in the country and millions in the region, calling the pledges “an important step” toward helping the needy. Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths announced the total in pledges at the closing of a high-level ministerial meeting in Geneva on Monday that was seeking $606 million until the end of the year to help 11 million people. Griffiths says the $1.2 billion includes funding for that appeal as well as the regional response to the Afghan crisis. Griffiths is urging donors to turn the pledges into cash contributions as fast as possible, saying that “the funding will throw a lifeline to Afghans” who lack food, health care and protection.

FACT FOCUS: Walmart quashes cryptocurrency partnership claim

By ALI SWENSON and ANNE D'INNOCENZIO - Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart denied any partnership with the digital currency Litecoin after a fake news release led to a brief flurry of inaccurate reports from national news outlets and social media users on Monday. A news release claiming a partnership between Walmart and Litecoin is “not real,” according to Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman. Charlie Lee, creator of Litecoin…

Several children among 5 dead, 4 injured in Ohio house fire

AP

by Rayos Syndication User

Authorities say five people are dead and four were injured in a house fire in northern Ohio.  The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office says two adults and three children were killed. WJW-TV reports the Akron Fire Department says firefighters found relatives and neighbors trying to get family members out of the home early Monday morning. The fire department says three adults and a child were taken to the hospital. Their conditions are not known. Authorities haven’t released the names or ages of the victims. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Latest: West Virginia hits daily record in new cases

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia set two daily records in the past week for positive coronavirus cases as the pandemic continues to ravage the state. Thursday’s total of confirmed cases was a record 1,738, only to be broken by Saturday’s total of 1,821, according to state health data. The previous one-day high of more than 1,700 was set on Dec….