AP National Business

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Lee Enterprises newspaper chain has adopted a “poison-pill” plan to protect itself from a hostile takeover while it considers an unsolicited offer from hedge fund Alden Global Capital to buy Lee for $24 a share. The plan would take effect if Alden gains control of more than 10% of Lee’s

By ANDREW MELDRUM Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The World Health Organization has urged countries not to impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new omicron variant. WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel

By ALEXANDER VERSHININ Associated Press ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — The leaders of several Asian countries have called for boosting economic ties with Afghanistan and pledged to provide assistance to the Afghan people during a summit in Turkmenistan. The countries, which are part of the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organization that includes Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Netherlands has moved into a tougher lockdown that was announced amid spiking infection rates even before the country recorded its first confirmed cases of the new, more highly transmissible omicron variant. Bars, restaurants, non-essential stores, cinemas and theaters were among the public places forced to shut

By JOHN FLESHER AP Environmental Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As demand for renewable energy surges, “community solar” installations are popping up around the U.S. They’re larger than home rooftop systems but smaller than utility-scale complexes. Community solar gardens are located atop buildings, or on abandoned factory grounds and farms. Customers subscribe to portions of energy

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of people have rallied in Belgrade to demand an end to alarming levels of air pollution in Serbia due to the use of coal-fired power plants and other factors The environmental protest comes a day after other environmental demonstrators blocked bridges and roads in several locations in Serbia, and scuffled

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco is suspending all incoming air travel from around the world starting Monday for two weeks because of the rapid spread of the new omicron variant of the virus. The government’s committee in charge of monitoring COVID-19 announced the move Sunday, tweeting that the decision was taken to “preserve the achievements

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — University of Maine researchers are trying to produce potatoes that can better withstand warming temperatures as the climate changes. Gregory Porter is a professor of crop ecology and management. He says warming temperatures and an extended growing season can lead to quality problems and disease for the state’s potato crop. Maine

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Several thousand people have rallied in Belgrade for another environmental protest, a day after demonstrators blocked bridges and roads in several locations in Serbia, and scuffled with riot police who deployed to stop them. The rally on Sunday was held in protest at alarming levels of air pollution in Serbia due

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus has popped up in more European countries, just days after being identified in South Africa., leaving governments around the world scrambling to stop the spread. The U.K. on Saturday tightened its rules on mask-wearing and on testing

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Gunshots rang out on Black Friday inside a packed Washington state mall, injuring one person as hundreds of other shoppers hid inside stores. KOMO reports that officers working in the mall saw a small group that got into a dispute and escalated with gunfire. The suspects fled the mall. As of

DAISY NGUYEN Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A security guard has died after he was shot while protecting a San Francisco Bay Area television news crew. KRON-TV said Saturday that the station was devastated by the loss of Kevin Nishita. The former police officer was an armed guard who provided security for many reporters

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The U.K. has tightened up rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two cases of the new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus that was identified just a few days ago in South Africa. New cases also have been confirmed in

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government say that it’s planning new measures to combat the omicron COVID-19 variant, including mandatory PCR tests for all arriving international travelers and ramping up the use of face masks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the measures at a news conference alongside his chief medical

By DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court has ordered five people to remain in pre-trial detention for two months pending an investigation into a devastating blast in a coal mine in Siberia that resulted in dozens of deaths. Authorities reported 51 deaths after a methane explosion rocked the Listvyazhnaya mine in

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Skirmishes have erupted in Serbia between police and anti-government demonstrators who briefly blocked roads and bridges in the Balkan country in protest against new laws they say favor interests of foreign investors who are devastating the environment. Hundreds of people on Saturday appeared simultaneously in the capital Belgrade, the northern city

By LORI HINNANT and DANICA KIRKA Associated Press CALAIS, France (AP) — Migrant smuggling networks organizing English Channel crossings have reaped tens of millions of euros this year. 2021 has been the busiest and deadliest ever recorded. Police and aid workers say the price per person varies depending on the network between 3,000 and 7,000