AP National News

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — US industrial production increased 0.5% in November as output at the nation’s factories reached the highest level since January 2019. The November gain followed an even larger 1.7% increase in October which had represented a rebound following a 1% drop in production in September, the Federal

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army says 98% of its active duty force had gotten at least one dose of the mandatory coronavirus vaccine as of this week’s deadline for the shots. But the Army also said Thursday more than 3,800 soldiers flatly refused and could start being removed from

By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is imposing new sanctions on several Chinese biotech and surveillance companies and government entities for actions in Xinjiang province. It’s the latest step against Beijing over human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the country’s western region. The Commerce Department is targeting China’s Academy

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week despite signs that the U.S. labor market is rebounding from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims were up by 18,000 to a 206,000, still low by historical standards. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The line of cars started forming at dawn. It was early November in Greenville, North Carolina, and drivers waited in a line that stretched for miles to pick up Thanksgiving turkeys — 10,000 free frozen birds to anyone who asked. Who was behind this act

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army says nearly 98% of its active duty force had gotten at least one dose of the mandatory coronavirus vaccine as of this week’s deadline for the shots. But the Army also said Thursday more than 3,800 soldiers flatly refused and could start being removed

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — New home construction in the U.S. jumped 11.8% in November as builder confidence continues to rise amid strong demand. The double-digit percentage increase last month left home construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.68 million units, an 8.3% increase from the rate

MIAMI (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped the case against one of the suspects in a deadly mass shooting at a Miami-Dade County banquet hall because detectives improperly obtained a confession after he asked for an attorney. The state attorney’s office announced Wednesday that 20-year-old Warneric Buckner won’t face first-degree murder and attempted murder charges in

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England has raised interest rates to combat surging consumer prices. The move Thursday makes it the first central bank among the world’s leading economies to do so since the coronavirus pandemic began. The increase in the bank’s main rate to 0.25% from the record

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week despite signs that the U.S. labor market is rebounding from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims were up by 18,000 to a 206,000, still low by historical standards. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week

By SUMAN NAISHADHAM and MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking steps aimed at reducing lead in drinking water, releasing $2.9 billion in infrastructure bill funds for lead pipe removal. It has also announced plans by the Environmental Protection Agency to impose stricter rules to limit exposure to the health

By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank has decided not to abruptly pull back its pandemic support for the economy as the new omicron variant of COVID-19 stirs uncertainty about the continent’s recovery. The move Thursday comes despite inflation hitting record highs and the U.S. speeding up its

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Former McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has paid back more than $105 million in equity awards and cash to the burger giant after it learned that he had lied about the extent of his misconduct while he was its top executive. Easterbrook apologized Thursday, saying that he had “failed at

BALTIMORE (AP) — Police say a Baltimore officer is in critical condition after being ambushed and shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle. The Baltimore Sun reports Dr. Thomas Scalea said at a briefing outside Maryland Shock Trauma that the officer was shot multiple times early Thursday and was on life support. Police Commissioner Michael

By MARGERY A. BECK and MARGARET STAFFORD Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say one person has died as a powerful storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest, bringing hurricane-force wind gusts and spawning reported tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says a semitrailer was struck by high winds

By WASBIR HUSSAIN Associated Press GAUHATI, India (AP) — Police in India say Myanmar has handed over five insurgents belonging to an Indian rebel group operating in the remote northeastern region bordering Myanmar. An air force aircraft flew the five from Myanmar to the Indian state of Manipur on Wednesday. Police say they belong to

BERLIN (AP) — German police say that four men including suspected right-wing extremists have been arrested as German investigators raided their homes in a probe of suspicions that they acquired substances to build an explosive device. They say that investigators on Thursday seized raw material for explosives, firecrackers, cellphones and a substantial quantity of narcotics

By DAVID SHARP Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A big postal rate increase over the summer hasn’t stopped catalog retailers from stuffing mailboxes this holiday season. The U.S. Postal Service says more than 300 million catalogs flooded into people’s mailboxes last month and that overall the number of catalogs has grown 12% over last

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Local authorities in western Serbia have suspended a plan that would allow mining giant Rio Tinto to operate a lithium mine. The mining had been expected to start in the near future, but a town council in Loznica voted on Thursday to suspend a regional development