The Associated Press

A man suspected in Northern California serial killings has been charged in four additional slayings this week, bringing the total to seven, authorities said.

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Barry Croft Jr., who was the fourth and final federal defendant to learn his fate. Judge Robert J. Jonker described him as "the idea guy" behind the plot.

Doctors are constantly monitoring the 95-year-old's condition, the Vatican said Wednesday. Pope Francis has asked the faithful to pray for the retired pontiff.

China says it will resume issuing ordinary visas and passports, setting up a potential flood of millions of Chinese going abroad for next month's Lunar New Year holiday.

The problems stemming from burst water pipes were happening in large, troubled water systems such as Jackson, Miss., where residents were required over Christmas to boil water.

The government had pushed for a life sentence, but the judge said that punishment was not necessary to deter future similar acts.

China has stepped up its military harassment of Taiwan, sending fighter planes and navy vessels toward the island on a near-daily basis in recent years.

A United Nations agency is seeking information about the voyage of over 100 Rohingya Muslim refugees who landed on an Indonesian beach this week, and warned Tuesday that there will likely be more.

Companies welcomed China's decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity.

As of late Monday, lottery officials estimate Tuesday's Mega Millions prize at $565 million — or more than $293 million if delivered in cash.

The scrapping of the quarantine requirement starting Jan. 8 is a major step toward reopening travel with the rest of the world, which the government severely curtailed in a bid to keep the virus out.

Ukraine's foreign minister told the AP that his government is aiming to have a summit, preferably at the United Nations with Secretary-General António Guterres as a possible mediator.