AP National Business

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Agriculture Department says it has reached agreement with U.S. authorities on a working plan to allow avocados from a second Mexican state to be exported to the United States. For almost 25 years, Mexico has been allowed to export avocados only from one western Mexico state — Michoacan. Under an

The Associated Press Stocks rose broadly on Wall Street Tuesday, adding to the market’s solid gains from a day earlier, as investors wager that the new variant of the COVID-19 virus won’t pose a big threat to the economy, as some initially feared. The S&P 500 rose 2.1% for its biggest gain since March.

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

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer Kellogg’s workers have overwhelmingly rejected a new contract that would have given them 3% raises, so the strike that began Oct. 5 will continue at the company’s four U.S. cereal plants. The union that represents the 1,400 workers released the results of the contract vote on Tuesday. Besides the

By JOSH BOAK Associated Press President Joe Biden says Saule Omarova’s nomination to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will be withdrawn. Her candidacy has faced steep resistance in the Senate with Republican lawmakers criticizing her vision for banking regulation and her birthplace in the former Soviet Union. Omarova is a law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department is proposing a new disclosure rule as part of efforts to combat corruption and terrorism. The proposal requires companies to identify who owns or controls their operations. As of now, many companies only need to disclose who formed the enterprise. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the proposal will

By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer Thousands of Airbnb hosts have agreed to house refugees as part of the online lodging marketplace’s philanthropic program to provide emergency temporary housing to those who need it. It’s a program so successful it is seen as a model for those working to resettle refugees and has become a

By JAMES BROOKS Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Workshops where non-professionals with a bug for fixing things can share equipment and experience with each other as well as the less handy are held on a regular basis in Denmark. The non-profit Repair Café Denmark stages up to 15 weekly “repair cafes” where volunteer repairers

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $67.1 billion in October, the lowest in six months, after hitting a record high in September. A big rebound in exports helped to offset a much smaller rise in imports. The October deficit was 17.6% below the September record of

LONDON (AP) — Instagram has launched a feature that urges teenagers to take breaks from the photo-sharing platform and announced other tools aimed at protecting young users from harmful content on the Facebook-owned service. An Instagram blog post says the previously announced “Take A Break” feature encourages teens to stop scrolling if they have been

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s health ministry has given the go-ahead for children between ages 5 and 11 to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision Tuesday comes amid a rise in coronavirus infections. The Spanish rollout is due to begin Dec. 15. That’s two days after the first of 3.2 million child vaccines arrive in Spain.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The European Union drug regulator has given its backing to mixing different types of vaccines in initial vaccination and booster campaigns to battle the coronavirus. The European Medicines Agency said in a statement Tuesday that using different types of vaccines together known as heterologous vaccination can provide protection against COVID-19.

BY KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Rohingya refugees are suing Facebook parent Meta Platforms for more than $150 billion over what they say was the company’s failure to stop hateful posts that incited violence against the Muslim ethnic group by Myanmar’s military rulers and their supporters. Lawyers filed a class-action lawsuit Monday

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization’s office for Europe says that children in the 5 to 14 age group now account for the highest rates of reported COVID-19 infection in the region. WHO Europe regional director Dr. Hans Kluge also argued Tuesday that vaccine mandates should be “an absolute

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines CEO Doug Parker will retire next March and be replaced by the airline’s current president, Robert Isom. American said Tuesday that Parker will remain chairman. Isom had been the heir apparent for several years at the airline, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Associated Press A Canadian drugmaker says its plant-based COVID-19 vaccine showed strong protection against the coronavirus. Medicago said Tuesday that its two-dose vaccine was 71% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection in a large, late-stage study. It included several circulating variants, but not the emerging omicron variant. The company’s technology uses plants to grow virus-like

By COURTNEY JESPERSEN of NerdWallet It’s December, and we’re weeks away from Christmas. But the 2021 holiday shopping season may feel anything but festive. In the final stretch of holiday shopping, you could face out-of-stock products, shipping delays, empty shelves and expensive delivery fees. However, even if you still have the majority of your shopping

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Ukrainian and Western officials are worried about a Russian military buildup near Ukraine. They fear it could signal plans by Moscow to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 after the country’s Moscow-friendly president was driven from power by mass protests. Russia also

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global investors are watching nervously as one of China’s biggest real estate developers tries to avoid a default on its $310 billion mountain of debt. Evergrande Group, which is scrambling to turn assets into cash, rattled financial markets Friday when it warned it might run out

By ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates says that it is changing its official workweek to Monday to Friday, a change that will start next month. The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency said on Tuesday that as of January, government employees would work a half-day on Friday,

MILAN (AP) — Carmaker Stellantis has announced a strategy to embed AI-enabled software in 34 million vehicles across its 14 brands. It hopes the tech upgrade will help it bring in 20 billion euros  in annual revenue by 2030. CEO Carlos Tavares on Tuesday heralded the move as part of a strategy that would transform

By WILLIAM J. KOLE Associated Press The list of 2021’s most mispronounced words is out, and they’re a mouthful. The U.S. Captioning Company, which captions and subtitles real-time events on TV and in courtrooms, compiled the list. It highlights the names and terms that were most challenging for newsreaders and people on television to pronounce.

By LEE KEATH and MSTYSLAV CHERNOV Associated Press HERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghans are streaming across the border into Iran in accelerating numbers, driven by desperation. Since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, Afghanistan’s economic collapse has accelerated, robbing millions of work and leaving them too poor to feed their families. In the past three months,

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Stocks have advanced in Asia after another broad rally on Wall Street as investors wagered that the new variant of the COVID-19 virus won’t pose a big threat to the economy. Oil prices fell back. Shares rose in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul, while Hong Kong was

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes spent another five hours on the witness stand Tuesday sparring with a federal prosecutor aiming to prove criminal allegations that she misled investors, customers, and patients about a flawed blood-testing technology that she spent years touting as a medical breakthrough.

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — China has reported its exports rose by double digits in November but growth declined, while imports accelerated in a sign of stronger domestic demand. Customs data showed exports rose 21.4% over a year earlier to $325.5 billion, decelerating from October’s 27.1% growth. Imports surged 31.7% to

ZEN SOO AP Business Writer HONG KONG (AP) — The bustling, cosmopolitan business hub of Hong Kong may be losing its shine among foreign companies and expatriates with its stringent anti-pandemic rules requiring up to 21 days of quarantine for new arrivals. The restrictions are discouraging both visitors and business travelers and add to other

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has agreed to plead guilty to taking bribes in a corruption scandal. Federal prosecutors said Monday that David Wright will plead guilty to one count of bribery and has admitted other corrupt acts. Wright was the top executive of

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fired CNN anchor Chris Cuomo says he’s dropping his SiriusXM radio show. The decision announced on Twitter follows a sexual harassment allegation. In a tweet, Cuomo said the past week has been difficult for his family and is stepping back to focus on what comes next. Cuomo was criticized for breaching

By ANITA SNOW Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Extreme heat is expensive. That’s the conclusion of a study presented Monday by The Nature Conservancy. The organization commissioned a look at the costs of rising temperatures in Phoenix, the hottest large metropolitan area in the U.S. The Nature Conservancy worked with Phoenix-based business management consultant AECOM.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Prosecutors have filed charges against a 29-year-old man in last week’s fatal shooting of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, at their Beverly Hills, California, home. Aariel Maynor is also charged with the attempted murder of the Avants’ security guard, whom he allegedly shot at

By JILL COLVIN, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes is leaving the House at the end of this year to lead former President Donald Trump’s effort to launch a social media platform intended to rival Twitter. A statement Monday from the Trump Media &

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A $50 million lawsuit has been filed against a utility over an explosion that killed two people and damaged several homes in Flint, Michigan. The lawsuit was filed Nov. 30 in Genesee County Circuit Court on behalf of 55-year-old Lisa Rochowiak, who died after the home next to hers exploded. Police

By ASTRID GALVAN Associated Press Congressional Democrats are raising concerns that the proposed merger of Discovery and AT&T’s WarnerMedia, a $43 billion effort to conquer the world of streaming, could affect diversity efforts in Hollywood and particularly hurt Latinos, who are already deeply underrepresented. Led by Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, 33 members of Congress

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pledging his social agenda legislation will deliver tangible savings on prescription drugs for all Americans. Speaking Monday at the White House, Biden cited the story of a young woman with diabetes hospitalized because she couldn’t afford insulin. His legislation would limit copays for

The Associated Press Stocks closed solidly higher on Wall Street Monday, aided by a broad rally that included travel-related companies that stand to benefit from more reopening of the economy. The S&P 500 rose and made up nearly all the ground it lost last week. Technology companies and banks accounted for a big slice of

Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Monday: Delta, Kohl’s rise; Moderna, AST SpaceMobile fall.

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Exxon Mobil says it has a plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in one of the most prolific oilfields in the U.S. The company made the announcement Monday, saying it will be focusing on emissions from its own operations as well as

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The owners of a San Francisco restaurant have apologized for denying service to three police officers over the weekend because their weapons made their staff “uncomfortable.” The owners of Hilda and Jesse Restaurant apologized in a social media post published Sunday following an outcry and calls to boycott the eatery because

BERLIN (AP) — Scientific organizations in Germany have accused the country’s biggest-selling newspaper of contributing to public hostility against scientists during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement Monday, the Alliance of Scientific Organization criticized a recent report by the Bild tabloid for singling out three researchers who had called for tougher restrictions to reduce COVID-19

By DREW LINDSAY of The Chronicle of Philanthropy Chronicle of Philanthropy For a decade ending last December, ArtPlace America sprinkled $150 million across the nation, backing a kaleidoscope of projects. The goal: prove that the arts and culture are critical to the social fabric, identity, and well-being of communities. Not all the work paid dividends,

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

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific railroad plans to expand its use of renewable fuels and explore using battery-powered locomotives in the coming years to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases 26% by 2030. To do that, the railroad plans to increase the amount of biodiesel it uses to 10% of all the fuel it

By KAREN MATTHEWS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The Manhattan district attorney says billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt has agreed to turn over $70 million worth of stolen antiquities. He will also be subject to an unprecedented lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Monday that in return,

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AP) — The U.S. Navy is suspending use of World War II-era fuel storage complex above a Hawaii aquifer that supplies nearly 20% of Honolulu’s drinking water. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro apologized to everyone who has been affected by what he called “this horrible,

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — In a story published December 5, 2021, about the latest gas prices survey, The Associated Press erroneously reported the two-week price drop was 2 cents; it was 3 cents.

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Craig Wright, a computer scientist who claims to be the inventor of Bitcoin, prevailed in a civil trial verdict Monday against the family of a deceased business partner that claimed it was owed half of a cryptocurrency fortune worth tens of billions. A Florida jury

By CARLEY PETESCH Associated Press DIAMNIADIO, Senegal (AP) — South Africa’s president says travel restrictions imposed on South Africa and other African nations for telling the world about the omicron variant are hypocritical, harsh and not supported by science. President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking Monday at the Dakar International Forum for Peace and Security, said the

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s prime minister is urging people to “remain prudent” about COVID-19 over the holidays as Christmas festivities at one Spanish hospital are suspected of infecting dozens of staff. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Monday that Spaniards can’t “let their guard down” because the coronavirus continues to spread. One regional hospital said 170

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — Tyson Foods said Monday that it plans to spend roughly $50 million on year-end bonuses for over 80,000 hourly workers at its meatpacking plants that will give them between $300 and $700 apiece. Those bonuses are on top of wage increases that drove the average value of the wages and benefits

By JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Defense Ministry says it is tightening supervision over cyber exports — a move that follows a series of scandals involving Israeli spyware company NSO Group. In a statement Monday, the ministry said the countries purchasing Israeli cyber technology would have to sign a declaration pledging to

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Among the fastest-growing forms of cryptocurrency are stablecoins, which use blockchain technology like Bitcoin and ethereum. Stablecoins are distinct, though, because they are pegged to a government-backed currency, like the dollar, or to gold. With each digital token valued at, say, $1, stablecoins are potentially better-suited

By YURAS KARMANAU The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Belarus has announced retaliatory restrictions on airlines from the European Union and the U.K., as well as a ban on imports of Western goods from countries that introduced sanctions against the post-Soviet nation last week. The Belarus Foreign Ministry says the import ban comes in

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — An activist investor is pushing department store chain Kohl’s to either sell the entire company or spin off its e-commerce division. In a letter posted online on Monday, Engine Capital said that it wants the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based retailer to consider these alternatives to boost

By MATT OTT Associated Press SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Shares in the electric vehicle startup Lucid Group are tumbling after saying that it had been subpoenaed by regulators, apparently over the process by which it became a  publicly-traded company last summer. The California company said in a regulatory filing Monday that the investigation by

By ERIC TUCKER and FRANK BAJAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The elite Russian state hackers behind last year’s massive SolarWinds cyberespionage campaign hardly eased up this year, managing plenty of infiltrations of U.S. and allied government agencies and foreign policy think tanks with consummate craft and stealth. So says the leading cybersecurity firm Mandiant

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The European Union’s drugs agency has recommended approving the use of an anti-inflammatory medicine to treat adults hospitalized with severe COVID-19. The European Medicines Agency decision Monday has to be confirmed by the E.U.’s executive commission. It extends the use of the drug RoActemra, made by Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche,

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian official has criticized a travel ban imposed on the West African nation by the British government amid fears about the new omicron variant as “punitive, indefensible and discriminatory.” U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Saturday added Nigeria to the U.K.’s travel “red list,” which

BERLIN (AP) — Karl Nehammer has been sworn in as Austria’s third chancellor in two months. Monday’s ceremony capped a round of upheaval triggered by the decision last week of Sebastian Kurz to bow out of politics. The 49-year-old Nehammer has been Austria’s interior minister since early 2020. He also is taking over as leader

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Starting Monday, DoorDash is offering grocery delivery in 15 minutes or less in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York. But instead of the army of gig workers it typically relies on to fulfill orders, DoorDash is forming a new company called DashCorps to employ couriers to handle the deliveries.

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. health agency says the global response to the longtime threat of malaria has taken a hit as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted health services in many countries and led to 47,000 more deaths worldwide last year. And questions remain on the possible fallout this year. The

By JILL LAWLESS and SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Winners of the 2021 Nobel Prizes are receiving their awards in scaled-down local ceremonies adapted for pandemic times. The coronavirus has scuttled the traditional formal banquet in Stockholm for a second year. It is usually attended by winners of the prizes in chemistry, physics,

By GARY D. ROBERTSON and TOM KRISHER Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Toyota says it plans to build a $1.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant near Greensboro, North Carolina, that will employ at least 1,750 people. The Japanese auto giant joined Gov. Roy Cooper and other officials in making the announcement Monday at a

By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is looking to expand reporting requirements on all-cash real estate deals to help crack down on bad actors’ use of the U.S. market to launder money made through illicit activity. The Treasury Department is seeking public comment for a potential regulation that would address

By LIZ WESTON of NerdWallet A personalized financial blueprint from a qualified planner should offer smart ways to manage your money both now and in the future. Plus, the plan should be tailored to your priorities and resources. But you don’t need a formal program or a professional to get started. Some general guidelines can

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — One of the scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is warning that the next pandemic may be more contagious and more lethal unless more money is devoted to research and preparations to fight emerging viral threats. Professor Sarah Gilbert said in excerpts released before a speech Monday

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian health authorities on Monday said they have confirmed the first two cases of the omicron variant of coronavirus in travelers who returned from South Africa. The country’s public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said a total of 10 people who returned from South Africa recently tested positive for COVID-19, but the new variant

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — China’s central bank expanded the supply of money for lending Monday as Beijing tried to reassure its public and investors the economy can be protected if a troubled developer’s $310 billion mountain of debt collapses. Evergrande Group’s struggle to turn assets into cash has prompted fear

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asia stock markets have followed Wall Street higher as anxiety about the coronavirus’s latest variant eased. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Oil prices gained for a second day. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.2% after the chief White House medical adviser said the

BERLIN (AP) — The European Central Bank says it plans to redesign its euro banknotes, with a final decision on the new look expected in 2024. The euro was introduced in cash form in 2002, with banknotes based on what the Frankfurt-based central bank for the 19-nation euro area calls an “ages and styles” theme

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Senior officials from the Slovak Republic are in Taiwan for talks on deepening ties with the island in the highest-level visit by the EU-member country since it opened a representative office in Taiwan in 2003. The visit by the delegation, which began Sunday, follows a mission last month by members of

BERLIN (AP) — Official statistics show that German factory orders dropped steeply in October, pushed down by much lower demand from countries outside the euro area. The Economy Ministry said orders were down 6.9% compared with the previous month, the second big drop in three months. But it said that recent developments shouldn’t be overinterpreted

By COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Italy is making life more uncomfortable for unvaccinated people as the holidays draw near. It is excluding them from indoor restaurants, theaters and museums into the New Year to control the spread of coronavirus and encourage vaccine skeptics to get their shots. Starting Monday through Jan. 15,

By ZEN SOO AP Business Writer HONG KONG (AP) — China’s largest e-commerce group Alibaba said Monday it is appointing a new chief financial officer and reorganizing its e-commerce businesses amid a regulatory crackdown in the technology industry. The company said in a statement Monday that Toby Xu will succeed Maggie Wu as its new

BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese beverage giant Kirin Holdings is seeking commercial arbitration in a dispute over unwinding its joint venture brewery in Myanmar. The company said Monday in a statement that it filed for arbitration in Singapore against Myanma Economic Holdings Plc, a state-owned company, to end their venture Myanmar Brewery. MEHL has filed for

The Associated Press The Federal Reserve issues its October snapshot of U.S. consumer borrowing Tuesday. The Labor Department delivers its monthly tally of job openings Wednesday. Costco Wholesale reports quarterly results Thursday.

By ASHOK SHARMA and SHEIKH SAALIQ Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to discuss defense and trade relations as India attempts to balance its ties with the United States. The two countries are expected to sign agreements in trade and defense. India

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s business economists have sharply raised their forecasts for inflation, predicting an extension of the price spikes that have resulted in large part from bottlenecked supply chains. A survey released Monday by the National Association for Business Economics found that its panel of forecasters expects

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Shares are mixed in Asia after troubled Chinese property developer Evergrande warned  late Friday it may run out of money. Hong Kong dropped 1.2% but the Shanghai Composite index rose. South Korea’s benchmark advanced but Tokyo and Sydney declined. Wall Street closed out last week with

By DAVID BAUDER and JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press Writers NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who lodged a sexual harassment allegation against former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was “disgusted” by what she saw as his hypocrisy and attempts to discredit women who made similar allegations against his brother. The woman’s lawyer released a statement Sunday.

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced hope for a quick approval of the country’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine by the World Health Organization, saying the move is essential for expanding its global supplies. Speaking during Sunday’s video call with Francesco Rocca, the president of the International Federation

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline fell 3 cents over past two weeks, to $3.46 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey says Sunday that the price drop is partly because of a crash in crude oil costs. It’s the first decline in gas prices in 14

BERLIN (AP) — German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle says it is suspending cooperation with a Jordanian partner, Roya TV, because of concerns about anti-Israeli and antisemitic content and caricatures on its social media. Deutsche Welle said Sunday it had entered a partnership with Roya TV because the broadcaster addressed issues such as gender equality, the

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Insurance companies operating in Louisiana will be charged at least $100 million to pay claims of two failed property insurers who went belly up in Hurricane Ida’s aftermath. But the cost of dealing with the insolvent insurers ultimately will fall on the state after insurance companies recoup the dollars through

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse some rowdy protesters in Brussels after most marched peacefully through the city to protest tightened COVID-19 restrictions. Thousands came to protest the new measures that were announced Friday, the third week in a row that the government has tightened its rules as

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Officials say 10 people aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship approaching New Orleans have tested positive for COVID-19. The Louisiana Department of Health said in a news release that the Norwegian Breakaway had departed New Orleans on Nov. 28 and is due to return this weekend. Over the past week, the

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the Pentagon intends to work better with private industry to develop high-tech systems and to strengthen relations with allies in the Indo-Pacific region in order to maintain a competitive edge over China,. Austin says recent military activity and aggressive moves by

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe of Florida has shut down its online sports betting app after being dealt its latest legal defeat in a case that has halted a massive expansion of gambling throughout Florida. The tribe on Saturday said it will temporarily stop taking bets on its Hard Rock Sportsbook app in

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government has tightened travel restrictions amid concerns about the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant. It said all travelers arriving in England will need to take a COVID-19 test before they board their flight. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new rules will apply from 4 a.m. London time Tuesday. He

PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Donald Trump’s new social media company and its special purpose acquisition company partner say the partner has agreements for $1 billion in capital from institutional investors. The former president launched Trump Media & Technology Group in October as he unveiled plans for a new messaging app called “Truth Social.” It

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer A rush of vaccine-seeking customers and staff shortages are squeezing drugstores around the country. That has led to frazzled workers and even temporary pharmacy closures. Drugstores are normally busy this time of year with flu shots and other vaccines. But now pharmacists are doling out a growing number of

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of protesters have gathered in Belgrade and other Serbian towns and villages to block roads and bridges despite police warnings and an intimidation campaign launched by authorities against the participants. Blowing whistles and chanting “Uprising! Uprising!” thousands of people stopped traffic Saturday on the main

By ALAN FRAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are hoping that Congress is nearing the finish line in its seven-month trek on President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion social and environment package. They know that time is not their friend. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he wants Democrats to finally end their disagreements and

By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A man charged with killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket earlier this year has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial for now. A judge on Friday ordered 22-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa to be treated at the state mental hospital to see if he can

By ALAN FRAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are hoping that Congress is nearing the finish line in its seven-month trek on President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion social and environment package. They know that time is not their friend. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he wants Democrats to finally end their disagreements and

SEATTLE (AP) — A completed report on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s missing text messages from a period during last year’s racial justice protests has yet to appear as Durkan prepares to leave office. The Seattle Times reports it’s been more than a year since the city attorney’s office hired a private contractor to analyze the

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Supreme Court ruled gun manufacturers cannot be held responsible for the deaths in the 2017 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip because a state law shields them from liability unless the weapon malfunctions. The parents of a woman who was among the 58 killed that night filed a

The Associated Press Wall Street closed out a bumpy week with more losses on Friday following a mixed reading on the U.S. jobs market that investors said was tough to parse. The S&P 500 gave up an early gain and closed 0.8% lower. The benchmark index is coming off a jolting stretch where it swerved