AP National Business

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,

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 RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration deftly parried questions on crises ranging from the COVID pandemic to the opioid epidemic. Dr. Robert Califf’s collegial hearing Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee seemed to bode well

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 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

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 is moving to lift the nation’s debt limit by $2.5 trillion. Tuesday’s expected vote in the Senate comes just one day before a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for avoiding a national default. The bill is expected to clear the Senate on a party-line

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 NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The United Arab Emirates is suspending talks on a $23 billion deal to purchase American-made F-35 planes, armed drones and other equipment, a rare dispute between Washington and a key ally in the Persian Gulf. The Emirati embassy in Washington said it would “suspend discussions” with the

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 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