Month: November 2021

By JESSICA MUNDIE Religion News Service For many Christians, the relationship between birds and faith does not stray farther than seeing a dove carrying an olive branch on a banner at church. However, for Christian birdwatchers — or to use a phrase coined by theologian John Stott, “ornitheologists” — birding is a kind of worship.

WHEELING, Ill. (AP) — Police have arrested a man in the strangulation death of an Illinois woman whose 1-year-old daughter was found dead in an Indiana retention pond. According to published reports, 26-year-old Ahmeel Fowler has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ja’nya Murphy, whose body was found Tuesday in her Wheeling

By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Gulf nation of Qatar has agreed to represent U.S. interests in Afghanistan following the closure of the American embassy in Kabul in late August. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Qatari counterpart say Qatar will serve as the “protecting power” for the United States

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans quit their jobs at a record pace for the second straight month in September, while businesses and other employers continued to post a near-record number of available jobs. The Labor Department said Friday that 4.4 million people quit their jobs that month, or about 3%

By DÉBORA REY Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — More than 40 women have filed a complaint against Opus Dei to the Vatican for alleged labor exploitation, and abuse of power and of conscience. The Argentine and Paraguayan citizens worked for the conservative Catholic group in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy and Kazakhstan between

By FAY ABUELGASIM and NOHA ELHENNAWY Associated Press KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — The United States, Britain and the European Union have slammed the Sudan coup leader’s latest move to tighten the military’s grip on power by appointing himself the head of an army-run governing body. The Western nations say it’s a unilateral decision that undermines

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — A court in Lithuania has found two Lithuanian men guilty of spying for Russia by passing information to a Russian handler, and jailed them for 4 years and 1.5 years, respectively. The Klaipeda Regional Court said the men did not know each other but were in contact with the same FSB

LAKE RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a Long Island man has been arrested for making a death threat against a Republican congressman from New York who voted for the $1 trillion infrastructure package. Nassau County police say 64-year-old Kenneth Gasper was arrested Wednesday for a telephoned death threat against Rep. Andrew Garbarino. Police say

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada is temporarily withdrawing nonessential staff from its embassy in Haiti. The move comes in response to a spike in gang-related violence in Haiti and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks. Global Affairs Canada says the embassy in Port-au-Prince remains open, but all Canadians should

By ANGELA CHARLTON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris says she didn’t discuss the secret submarine deal that sent U.S.-French relations to a historic low when she met this week with French President Emmanuel Macron. On a four-day trip to France seen as a charm offensive, Harris said that instead she

By MATTHEW PERRONE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf to again lead the powerful regulatory agency. Califf served as FDA commissioner for the last 11 months of President Barack Obama’s second term. Before that, Califf spent more than 35

BOSTON (AP) — Members of the union that represents about 200 workers at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts have voted to hold a one-day strike next week over stalled contract negotiations with management. Union officials tell The Boston Globe that more than 96% of the union voted to picket outside the museum Wednesday. The union

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary could face fines from the European Union for failing to comply with a ruling by the bloc’s top court on its treatment of refugees and handling of asylum claims. The EU’s executive arm on Friday said it would refer Hungary to the EU Court of

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A new rocket designed to launch humans to the moon, Mars and beyond will launch next year from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On board will be a familiar fuzzy figure — Snoopy. A 5-ounce plush toy version of the daydreaming beagle — wearing a

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State Sen. Hugh Leatherman, South Carolina’s oldest and most powerful state lawmaker, has died. His office says Leatherman died Friday at his home in Florence, where he was in hospice care with inoperable cancer. Leatherman was in his 11th term, still serving at the age of

By PIA SARKAR Associated Press HADDONFIELD, N.J. (AP) — Since the start of the pandemic, Associated Press editor Pia Sarkar tried to play it safe. She and her family stayed close to home, avoided large gatherings and limited themselves to outdoor activities. Once vaccinated, she started to allow herself small indulgences like hanging out with

VIENNA (AP) — Austria is implementing a lockdown for unvaccinated people in two hard-hit regions next week and looks poised to move forward with similar measures nationwide. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg made the announcement Friday. Starting Monday, unvaccinated people in the regions of Upper Austria and Salzburg will only be allowed to leave their homes for

By THOMAS ADAMSON and SYVLIE CORBET PARIS (AP) — French authorities are investigating an alleged rape that occurred earlier this year in the presidential Elysee Palace. The Paris prosecutor’s office told The Associated Press on Friday the investigation was opened on July 12. But it did not immediately confirm French media reports saying a female

BERLIN (AP) — Lufthansa says it has repaid all the aid it received from the German government last year to help the airline through the coronavirus pandemic. Germany’s biggest airline received a 9 billion euro government rescue package in mid-2020. The German government took a 20% stake in the company, which has long made clear

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin has rebuffed allegations that a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine reflects Moscow’s aggressive intentions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western media reports alleging that Moscow has intentions to invade Ukraine as “hollow and unfounded attempt to incite tensions.” Peskov told reporters that Russia needs

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN and TOM MURPHY The Associated Press Johnson & Johnson is splitting into two companies, separating the division that sells Band-Aids and Listerine from its medical device and prescription drug business. The company said Friday that the division selling prescription drugs and medical devices will keep the Johnson & Johnson name. The new

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Everyone over the age of 18 in Norway will be offered a booster shot of a vaccination against coronavirus, the country’s prime minister says. He added Friday that unvaccinated health care personnel should be tested twice a week and must wear face masks. He said “the infection will be among us

LONDON (AP) — More than 1,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Thursday to reach the U.K. from France, a new record for migrant arrivals in a single day. At least 1,185 people reached the U.K. aboard 33 small boats, Britain’s Home Office confirmed Friday. That figure surpasses the previous high of

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana board has voted to posthumously pardon Homer Plessy, the namesake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1896 “separate but equal” ruling affirming state segregation laws. The state Board of Pardon voted unanimously on Friday to clear the Creole man’s record of a conviction for refusing