AP National Business

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press CHAVANNES-DE-BOGIS, Switzerland (AP) — The head of vaccine alliance Gavi says in an interview he’s seen early signs that rich countries are beginning to withhold donations out of fears about the omicron variant – warning it could lead to “Inequity 2.0.” CEO Dr. Seth Berkley took stock of the nearly

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top official says omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of the bloc’s population fully vaccinated. Von der

By ALEX TURNBULL Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Harry’s Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the bloody mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented at the iconic watering hole in 1921. The bar known for hosting F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway plans a centenary celebration on Thursday night

LONDON (AP) — Barclays is doubling its investment in English women’s football as part of its sponsorship of the top two divisions. The bank has extended a deal through 2025 to be the title sponsor of the Football Association-run Women’s Super League and it will also now be linked to the second-tier Championship. Barclays says

By KRUTIKA PATHI and ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. Analysts say her hiring signals how the brand is accounting for changing consumer awareness of the industry’s environmental impact

By FRANK BAJAK AP Technology Writer BOSTON (AP) — Security pros say it’s one of the worst computer vulnerabilities they’ve ever seen. They say state-backed Chinese and Iranian hackers and rogue cryptocurrency miners have already seized on it. The Department of Homeland Security is sounding a dire alarm, ordering federal agencies to urgently find and

By BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a $2.5 trillion debt limit hike, sending legislation to avert a catastrophic default to President Joe Biden for his signature. The flurry of action, which stretched into Wednesday’s early morning hours, came just shy of a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer Stocks have climbed in Asia, tracking Wall Street’s gains, after the Federal Reserve said it would accelerate its pullback of economic stimulus. The Fed said it would likely raise interest rates three times next year to tackle rising inflation and will shrink its monthly bond purchases at twice the

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s plan for health insurers to reimburse consumers for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests is recalling the model of a bygone era when the companies processed large volumes of claims from individuals — with paper receipts. It’s unclear if the buy-first, get-paid-later approach will spur people to

By JANIE HAR Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco’s mayor has announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing open drug use and brazen home break-ins that she says have made a mockery of the city’s famed tolerance and compassion. At a news conference Tuesday attended by the sheriff and police chief, Mayor London

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, VICTORIA MILKO and LORI HINNANT Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — In February, Myanmar’s military took over the country’s government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from a gas field called Yadana. Now there is a groundswell of support in Myanmar for targeted

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, VICTORIA MILKO and LORI HINNANT Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — In February, Myanmar’s military took over the country’s government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from a gas field called Yadana. Now there is a groundswell of support in Myanmar for targeted

By PIERRE-RICHARD LUXAMA and EVENS SANON Associated Press CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) — Nelly Joseph picked through the twisted metal roofing, overturned furnishings and rubble of her charred home, unsure of where her dead son had been buried or where she would sleep after blasts from a flipped gas tanker destroyed their house. Late Monday night,

By FRANK BAJAK AP Technology Writer BOSTON (AP) — Security pros say it’s one of the worst computer vulnerabilities they’ve ever seen. They say state-backed Chinese and Iranian hackers and rogue cryptocurrency miners have already seized on it. The Department of Homeland Security is sounding a dire alarm, ordering federal agencies to urgently eliminate the

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Officials and family members have marked the renaming of the busy Las Vegas airport as Harry Reid International Airport. Reid served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, including eight years as Democratic majority leader and was the longest-serving senator in Nevada history when he retired in 2017. He’s now 82

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife officials have advanced plans that could allow grizzly bear hunting in areas around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks if states in the U.S. northern Rockies succeed in their attempts to end federal protections for the bruins. Montana wildlife commissioners on Tuesday signed onto a

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A former Netflix executive is going to federal prison for taking bribes and kickbacks from tech companies to approve lucrative contracts. Michael Kail of Los Gatos was sentenced Tuesday to 2 1/2 years and must forfeit $700,000. Kail is a former Netflix vice president who oversaw the company’s internet technology

By JANIE HAR Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco’s mayor has announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing open drug use and brazen home break-ins that she says have made a mockery of the city’s famed tolerance and compassion. At a news conference Tuesday attended by the sheriff and police chief, Mayor London

PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their $1 million bail. The Caldor Fire forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year. A Placerville judge on Monday reduced bail for Travis

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Kellogg’s is facing increasing political pressure to resume contract talks with its 1,400 striking cereal plant workers. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts sent a letter to the company’s CEO this week urging the company to return to the bargaining table with workers at its four plants

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. officials say the development of commercial advanced nuclear reactors intended to help combat global warming and enhance national security will need a better supply of the right type of nuclear fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday asked companies that might be interested in

The Associated Press Stocks closed lower on Wall Street Tuesday as traders took in the latest sign that inflation is still running high ahead of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year. The S&P 500, the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell. The latest report on inflation showed that wholesale prices jumped

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday: Purple Innovation, Sunrun fall; Alcoa, Terminix rise.

By CLAUDIA TORRENS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A son of former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli has pleaded guilty in New York to laundering $28 million in connection with a massive bribery scheme at a global construction conglomerate. Ricardo Martinelli Linares was extradited to the U.S. last week from Guatemala in a case involving

The Associated Press Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, and foreign exchange levels.

By The Associated Press Captain Kirk finally made it into space this past year. William Shatner was part of the new wave of civilian travelers sponsored by names like Bezos, Musk and Branson who are heading upward 10 years after NASA’s shuttle program ended. But there are big differences. What does entrepreneurial space travel have

MILAN (AP) — Italy’s health minister has signed an ordinance requiring any unvaccinated visitor from another EU country to quarantine for five days after arrival in a bid to block the spread of the omicron variant.  Under the new requirement taking effect Wednesday, vaccinated visitors from EU countries must get a negative test within 24

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson is a free man. A Nevada State Police spokeswoman said Tuesday the 74-year-old former football hero and actor, acquitted California murder defendant and convicted Las Vegas armed robber was granted good behavior credits and discharged from parole effective Dec. 1. Simpson’s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne,

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government has ordered elementary schools to close a week early for Christmas holidays as authorities battle to rein in coronavirus infections amid concerns about the swift spread of the omicron variant. Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday also extended the country’s existing

BOSTON (AP) — Starbucks workers at two locations in Boston are looking to unionize, days after the first successful union vote at a Starbucks in the U.S. GBH News reported Monday at least 36 of some 47 Boston employees put their names down on cards indicating they want to form a union. A representative with

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) — Thousands of towns across the United States that were wracked by the opioid crisis are on the precipice of receiving billions of dollars in the second-biggest legal settlement in U.S. history. The $26 billion from three drug distributors and a pharmaceutical manufacturer would address damage wrought

By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The trial of a Harvard University professor charged with hiding his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program is the latest bellwether in the Justice Department’s controversial effort to crackdown on economic espionage by China. Opening statements are slated for Wednesday in the Boston trial of Charles Lieber,

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer It all began with an elf named Fisbee. In the 1970s, when her three children were growing up, Carol Aebersold would place her childhood toy in a new spot each day leading up to Christmas. The family lore was that Fisbee was watching over them, ready to report to

By BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a $2.5 trillion debt limit hike, sending legislation to avert a catastrophic default to President Joe Biden for his signature. The flurry of action, which stretched into Wednesday’s early morning hours, came just shy of a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Egypt’s foreign minister has rebuffed a Turkish push for a two-state peace deal on ethnically divided Cyprus. The Egyptian minister said Tuesday that any talks should adhere to a U.N.-backed road map reunifying the east Mediterranean island nation as a federation. The diplomat said after talks with his Cypriot counterpart on

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer The railroad merger that was nearly derailed by a bidding war earlier this year is moving forward although regulators will have the final say next year on Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad. Canadian Pacific set up a voting trust that purchased Kansas City Southern

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is revamping the rules governing the movement of people and goods into and around Europe. It comes as coronavirus restrictions and fears over a “hybrid attack” from Belarus using migrants are straining Europe’s passport-free travel area. The Schengen travel zone includes 26 countries, four

By LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A former Albanian environment minister has been arrested on abuse of post and corruption charges. The Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime said Tuesday that Lefter Koka was arrested and is accused of abuse of post, corruption and money laundry for a concession contract

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — The European Union’s ambitious plan to update its pioneering internet rules has gained momentum. A key committee passed measures Tuesday requiring technology companies to better police content and lawmakers prepared to vote on regulations to rein in Big Tech. The rules have been the subject of

BRUSSELS (AP) — Serbia is taking a significant step toward joining the European Union. Belgrade opened talks Tuesday on a series of policies linked to the environment but it was warned that progress on its European path still depends on normalizing relations with its former territory, Kosovo. Countries wanting to join the 27-country EU must

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading so rapidly that it has the potential to overwhelm Britain’s hospitals. He says that has highlighted the need to strengthen restrictions and accelerate the delivery of booster vaccines. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department will release $8.7 billion to help increase lending to small and minority-owned businesses and to people living in poorer communities with limited access to banking. The funds from the Emergency Capital Investment Program will go to 186 community-based financial institutions. Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Newcastle’s Saudi ownership can start signing up sponsors from the kingdom after new English Premier League rules were introduced to end the brief ban on clubs bringing in such deals. It was rushed through temporarily in October after the Saudi state’s sovereign wealth fund bought

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Kroger, the country’s biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some benefits for unvaccinated workers as big employers attempt to compel more to become vaccinated with cases of COVID-19 again rising. A company spokesperson said Tuesday that unvaccinated workers will no longer be eligible to receive up to two-weeks paid

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — While many companies are offering bonuses or higher pay as a way to lure and keep workers, a central Florida business is offering a drawing for two brand new and mortgage-free houses. Mechanical One President and CEO Jason James says he’s planning to hold the drawing next December. The company

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices at the wholesale level surged by a record 9.6% in November from a year earlier, an indication of ongoing inflation pressures The Labor Department said that its producer price index, which measures inflation before it reaches consumer, rose 0.8% in November compared to October, the

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Business Writer Many couples who don’t have children expect that they’ll more or less share household duties equally should they have kids one day. But a new poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 35% of

By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Second hand. Like new. Thrift. Buy Nothing. Gently used. There are lots of ways to describe consumption in the booming resale market. Add “Merry Christmas!” to the list. Resale has taken off among those looking to save the planet and spend less on gifts during what

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Scorsese’s alma mater, New York University, is establishing a film institute in his name after a gift from George Lucas and Mellody Hobson. The formation of the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts was to be announced Tuesday by NYU’s Tish School of

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union nations have set fish catch quotas for next year in an attempt to protect fragile stocks and fishing fleets at the same time, but environmentalists claim they will protect neither. The traditional year-end bartering session between EU coastal nations to secure as many catch rights

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican’s big fraud and embezzlement trial has suffered another delay. The tribunal postponed any further decisions until prosecutors finish redoing their investigation for four of the original 10 defendants.  The delay means the trial won’t get off the ground until mid-February at the earliest. Tribunal

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The banking industry appears to have overdone it on overdraft fees. After decades of raking in billions of dollars from mostly poor Americans short of cash in their accounts, the biggest banks _ under pressure from lawmakers and regulators _ are slowly decreasing their reliance

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A Portuguese and a Swedish company are joining forces to build in Portugal what they say will be Europe’s largest lithium conversion plant. Portuguese energy company Galp and Swedish electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt said Tuesday that their goal is for the plant to deliver enough lithium hydroxide to provide batteries

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Members of a new expert panel advising the German government on the coronavirus pandemic are holding their first meeting. The meeting Tuesday comes amid signs that government restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to slow infection rates. Germany’s disease control agency reported 30,823 newly confirmed cases

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer says that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. The company also confirmed Tuesday that the pill delivered on promising early results in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The updates come as U.S. regulators are expected to soon decide on whether to

By MELISSA LAMBARENA of NerdWallet When you’re trying to stay accountable and motivated while paying down debt, visual aids can offer encouragement and help you celebrate the small wins. They can shift the focus to your progress instead of a distant debt-free date. A simple search online can open the door to a variety of

By ANDREW MELDRUM Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed — but not stopped — by today’s vaccines. An analysis Tuesday

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s jobs market appears to have brushed aside the ending of a salary support program that supported millions of jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. The Office for National Statistics found Tuesday that the number of workers on payroll rose by a record 257,000 in November to a

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Hard Rock International says it wants to see how a guitar-shaped hotel will play at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Resorts’ sale of The Mirage marks the end of an era for a property credited for helping to transform Las Vegas from a

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — A group of lawmakers say proposed British rules aimed at cracking down on harmful online content should be beefed up with tougher measures. They include making it illegal to send unsolicited graphic images, requiring porn sites to ensure children can’t gain access and moving faster to

By RANDALL CHASE Associated Press DOVER, Del. (AP) — Attorneys in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy case have reached a tentative settlement under which one of the organization’s largest insurers would contribute $800 million into a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. The agreement announced Monday calls for Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated

By ADAM BEAM Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is bringing back a statewide indoor mask mandate. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced the new mandate will start Wednesday and last until Jan. 15. The order comes as the per capita rate of new coronavirus cases in California has jumped 47% in the past two

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s top soccer league has generated 4.95 billion euros from the sale of subscription broadcast domestic rights for five seasons. La Liga has sold games for live broadcast in Spain to a streaming service for the first time with DAZN picking up the rights to 175 matches per season. Telefonica-owned Movistar has

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fishing industry managers are recommending the already-diminished U.S. cod fishery face another reduction in catch limits. Cod fishing was once a huge industry in New England, but it collapsed due to overfishing and environmental challenges. The New England Fishery Management Council said on Dec. 10 it is calling for a reduction

The Associated Press Stocks pulled back below their recent record levels on Wall Street Monday as the market’s momentum slowed down following its best week since February. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell. Technology, energy and travel-related companies had some of the biggest losses.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Monday: Harley-Davidson, Arena rise; Capital One, Carnival fall.

By SARAH RANKIN and ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The information technology agency that serves Virginia’s legislature has been hit by a ransomware attack that has substantially affected its operations. A spokesperson for Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday confirmed the attack on Virginia’s Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The spokesperson says the

The Associated Press Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, and foreign exchange levels.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a conservative think tank over Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to exclude the group’s writers from press briefings. The justices acted without comment Monday. They left in place lower court rulings that said the decision is legal. The John K. MacIver Institute for Public

By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — William Shatner is well-known for his “Star Trek” role as Capt. Kirk. But even the actor says he was surprised by how much attention his July trip to space drew. Shatner’s flight is the subject of “Shatner in Space,” an hour-long special out Wednesday on

By BEN FOX Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press is seeking answers from the Department of Homeland Security on its use of sensitive government databases for tracking international terrorists to investigate as many as 20 American journalists, including an acclaimed AP reporter. In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, AP Executive Editor

BERLIN (AP) — Germany has activated its national IT crisis center in response to an “extremely critical” flaw in a widely used software tool that the government says has already been exploited internationally. A spokesman for Germany’s Interior Ministry said the country’s federal IT safety agency is urging users to patch their systems as quickly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia is the latest large city to require proof of vaccination to dine indoors. City officials announced Monday that vaccination proof will be required starting Jan. 3 for bars, restaurants, indoor sporting events, movie theatres and other places where people eat indoors close to each other. For the first two weeks of

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of a Senate panel that oversees Medicare says the Biden administration should cut back a hefty premium increase soon to hit millions of enrollees. Nearly half of the Medicare Part “B” premium increase is due to Medicare’s need for a contingency fund to cover a

John Legend’s newest project brings him into the book business. Legend, Tony Award-winning producer Mike Jackson and Emmy Award-winner Ty Stiklorius are partnering with the publisher Zando for a new imprint, Get Lifted Books. It’s an extension of the production company Get Lifted Film. Zando is an independent company founded last year by former Crown

DILLON, Mont. (AP) — Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch has bought a large cattle ranch in southwest Montana from a subsidiary of Koch Industries. The Beaverhead Ranch is spread across more than 500 square miles of private and leased land west of Yellowstone National Park. It has about 7,000 cattle and is home to 15