Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in West Africa could exceed 20,000 cases. That's more than six times as many as right now. A new study by the U.N. health agency also assumes that in many hard-hit areas, the actual number of cases may be two to four times higher than is currently reported. New figures show that 1,552 people have now died from the Ebola virus from among the 3,069 cases reported so far.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is suggesting it may not be necessary to get a sign-off from Congress for airstrikes over Syria. Last summer the Obama administration scrapped an operation to attack Syria's government in retaliation for chemical weapons use. But White House spokesman Josh Earnest suggests that attacking the militant group Islamic State would be different. He says, "This is a group that poses a threat to Americans in the region and could potentially, down the line, pose a broader threat to American interests and our allies around the globe."
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian officials say a new search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that's expected to begin in weeks, will likely have to concentrate farther south than previously expected. Australian aviation officials say that new analysis from the first of two satellite phone calls ground staff tried to make to the plane suggests that the jet already was flying south less than 20 minutes after the plane dropped off Malaysian military radar.
BEIJING (AP) — China says it will keep responding to U.S. military surveillance flights off its coast, rejecting American claims that one of Beijing's fighter jets acted recklessly in intercepting a U.S. Navy plane last week. A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman says China's military will closely monitor U.S. flights and adopt appropriate measures to ensure the country's security. China says U.S. surveillance flights this year have become more frequent, are covering a wider area and are coming closer to the Chinese coast.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The city council in Santa Fe, New Mexico has voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The vote last night was 5-4. The measure makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction punishable by a fine of no more than $25. It had been a criminal misdemeanor.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
