AP National News

By THOMAS ADAMSON AP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) — Some Paris Fashion Week menswear shows have began for the fall-winter season as French virus restrictions have relegated many others to an online-only presence. Those brands that chose to maintain physical shows like AMI on Wednesday seem to be benefiting from a relative boost in coverage.

By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging western nations to remain unified in the face of what he calls “relentless” Russian aggression against Ukraine. During a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Blinken told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the U.S. and its allies are steadfast

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Major international airlines have canceled flights heading to the U.S. or changed the planes they’re using. The moves Wednesday represented the latest complication in a dispute over concerns that 5G mobile phone service could interfere with aircraft technology. Carriers took widely different approaches to

BRUSSELS (AP) — A local court has convicted 18 people who were involved from Belgium in the 2019 deaths of 39 people from Vietnam whose bodies were found in the back of a container truck in southeastern England. The Bruges correctional court on Wednesday found what it called a Vietnamese ringleader in Belgium guilty and

By ALEX ROSENBERG of NerdWallet As of Jan. 1, most surprise medical bills are now banned as a result of the No Surprises Act. Surprise medical bills commonly arise when you can’t choose your provider, such as in an emergency or when you’re assigned an anesthesiologist or radiologist. Under the new rules, your insurer has

By BASSEM MROUE Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — A snowstorm in the Middle East has left many Lebanese and Syrians scrambling to find ways to survive. Some are burning old clothes, plastic and other hazardous materials to keep warm as temperatures plummet and poverty soars. The storm began Tuesday night and is expected to peak

By MICHAEL CANTU Edmunds The chip and supply chain shortages of 2021 have been difficult for automakers and consumers alike. But something positive has emerged from the chaos for 2022: more new car introductions. Among other things, the shortage forced many brands to delay the release of all-new and redesigned vehicles that were originally scheduled

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a grilling from opponents in Parliament as well as a threat from his own party’s lawmakers over a string of lockdown-flouting government parties. Conservative legislators are judging whether to trigger a no-confidence vote in Johnson over the “partygate” scandal. Johnson

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDPAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The leader of Hungary’s political opposition has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 amid a surge in cases fueled by the highly transmissible omicron variant. Peter Marki-Zay is an independent conservative who will represent a six-party opposition coalition in the parliamentary election in April. He

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has taken the oath of office for his second term.  Radev is the country’s fifth democratically elected president. He was sworn in Wednesday at a ceremony in parliament together with Vice President Iliana Yotova.  The 58-year-old former chief of the Bulgarian Air Force overwhelmingly won a November

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says the number of new coronavirus cases globally rose by 20% last week to more than 18 million, marking a slowdown in the surge caused by the omicron variant. The U.N. health agency reported that the number of new COVID-19 infections increased in every world region except for

By DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press TANAGRA, Greece (AP) — French-built fighter jets roared over the Acropolis as Greece races to modernize its military and flaunts new security alliances aimed at checking neighboring Turkey. Six advanced Rafale jets, purchased from the French air force, flew in low formation over Athens on Wednesday before their official handover

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia has limited access to what the government considers the most risky events and public gatherings as the country gets ready for the highly infectious omicron coronavirus variant.  People need to receive a booster shot or be vaccinated by two shots and additionally get tested or recovered from COVID-19 to attend

By LAETITIA BEZAIN Associated Press ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Officials in Madagascar say that heavy rains have flooded parts of the capital city, Antananarivo, killing 10 people and making more than 12,000 homeless. With the rains continuing and a possible cyclone approaching the Indian Ocean island, officials warned of possible landslides in the capital city,

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A pipeline that carries oil from Iraq to world markets has resumed operating several hours after an explosion in southeastern Turkey forced it to shut down. No one was hurt in the explosion late Tuesday in Kahramanmaras province. A statement from Turkey’s pipeline company said the oil flow resumed on Wednesday

By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents starting next week. The step comes after federal officials emphasized the masks’ better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. The White House said Wednesday the masks

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer The French Senate has voted in favor of banning the wearing of headscarves in sports competitions after arguing that neutrality is a requirement on the field of play. The French upper legislative house voted in favor of amending a proposed law on stipulating that the wearing “of conspicuous religious

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Islamic militant who eluded capture for 18 years has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after an Indonesian court found him guilty of hiding information about the 2002 Bali bombings from authorities and harboring other suspects. Prosecutors previously demanded a life sentence for Aris

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Consumer prices in the United Kingdom have risen at the fastest pace in almost 30 years as higher costs for energy, transportation, food and furniture squeezed household incomes. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that inflation measured by the consumer price index accelerated to 5.4% in

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Council President Charles Michel has become the second top-level European Union official who has had to pull out of the bloc’s parliament session because he had a high-risk COVID-19 contact. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen already canceled her attedance on Monday.  Michel was to brief legislators on the EU