AP National News

Latest: Alaska’s biggest hospital begins rationing treatment

By The Associated Press
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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….

Analysis: Mississippi examines help for departing inmates

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi law that took effect July 1 expands parole eligibility, and lawmakers are looking at programs that could help people make the transition from prison back into the free world. House and Senate committees met Wednesday at the state Capitol to gather ideas from several people, including prison and parole officials in Alabama, a leader…

The Latest: Qatar sends high-level delegation to Afghanistan

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

The Middle Eastern State of Qatar, which has played an outsized role in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s sweep to power on Aug. 15, has sent a delegation to Kabul. It is the highest diplomatic level delegation to visit the Afghan capital since the Taliban announced their interim Cabinet. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted Sunday about the high-level delegation, saying it included Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdur Rahman Al-Thani, the deputy prime minister who is also Qatar’s foreign minister. He met with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund. The Taliban have maintained a political office in the Qatar capital of Doha since 2013. 

The Latest: New Zealand buys 500K Pfizer doses from Denmark

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand is buying an extra 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from Denmark as it tries to keep its coronavirus vaccination program running at full speed, the government said. The doses are on top of New Zealand’s regular shipments from Pfizer and come a few days after officials announced a similar deal with Spain for…

The Latest: Taliban flag flies at Afghan presidential palace

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

The Taliban flag is fluttering over the Afghan presidential palace on the same day the U.S. and the world marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The milestone anniversary Saturday takes place just weeks after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the return to power of the Taliban, the faction that sheltered the al-Qaida terror network founded by Osama bin Laden that carried out the attacks. The Taliban’s new prime minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund raised the flag in a ceremony at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday. The militant group also painted their white backdrop flag on the entry gate to the U.S. Embassy building.