AP National News

The Latest: Elders leader tells UN council to protect rights

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

UNITED NATIONS — Former Irish president Mary Robinson, who heads the group of prominent former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, called on China and Russia especially to tell the Taliban that participation of women in Afghan society and the education of girls are “non-negotiable and must be respected.” Robinson recalled visiting Afghanistan in March 2002 as U.N. High Commissioner for…

Mental health exam ordered for supermarket shooting suspect

By COLLEEN SLEVIN - Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

A judge has ordered a state mental health evaluation for the man accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in March to determine whether he is competent to proceed with the case. Judge Ingrid Seftar Bakke on Tuesday ordered that state experts conduct the evaluation of Ahmad Alissa within three weeks at the Boulder County jail. The evaluation is meant to determine whether he is able to understand court proceedings and assist his lawyers in defending him. The defense claims there’s a “reasonable belief” that he’s incompetent. It says they will ask for another evaluation if the first one finds him to be competent.

The Latest: N. Carolina has 170 clusters in schools, centers

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina health officials on Tuesday released a report showing 170 ongoing COVID-19 clusters in K-12 schools or child care settings. While the state Department of Health and Human Services said it does not have data on the number of pupils quarantined statewide or the share of those forced to miss school without a remote learning…

The Latest: More U.S. first responders are dying of COVID-19

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

UNDATED — The resurgence of COVID-19 this summer and the national debate over vaccine requirements have created a fraught situation for the United States’ first responders, who are dying in larger numbers but pushing back against mandates. It’s a stark contrast from the beginning of the vaccine rollout when first responders were prioritized for shots. The mandates affect tens of…

The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland

The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country. A U.S. official says Monday that the citizen and the citizen’s children “successfully departed Afghanistan using an overland route” and were met by U.S. Embassy staff at the…