AP National News

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s military says pirates are suspected of taking six hostages from a container ship in international waters in the Gulf of Guinea  this week. While sailing off West Africa on an international anti-piracy mission, the Danish navy frigate HDMS Esbern Snare responded Monday to information that a container ship was under

By LISA MASCARO and ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s one of the most far-reaching of all the federal aid programs launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. The expanded child tax credit puts up to $300 per child directly into the bank accounts of families on the 15th of every month. But the last

CAMP HILL, Ala. (AP) — A new memorial now stands on a hill overlooking the Alabama girls home linked to eight children who died in a van crash that killed 10 people earlier this year. The memorial was dedicated Tuesday at the Tallapoosa County Girl’s Ranch. The director of the home was the driver and

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — “19 Kids and Counting” father Jim Bob Duggar has lost his bid for the Arkansas Legislature. Tuesday’s election results show Colby Fulfer, who is chief of staff for the city of Springdale, and Steve Unger, a retired U.S. Navy captain, are headed toward a Republican primary runoff in January for a

By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer BANGKOK (AP) — A positive COVID-19 test among U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s traveling party has cut short the top diplomat’s first official tour of Southeast Asia. A member of the press corps accompanying Blinken on what was to have been a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writer Stocks fell in morning trading on Wall Street Wednesday as traders wait to hear from the Federal Reserve after its last policy meeting of the year. The Fed is widely expected to announce a faster pullback of its stimulus measures as inflationary pressures build. The S&P 500 fell

BOSTON (AP) — Rachael Rollins says she has endured racist and threatening messages as she prepares to become Massachusetts’ next U.S. attorney. Rollins, a Democrat, will be the first Black woman to serve in the role. Her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month after a contentious process and vote that split

DETROIT (AP) — Subaru is recalling about 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. because a chain in the transmission can break, causing a loss of power. The recall covers certain 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles, as well as some 2019 and 2020 Ascent SUVs. Subaru says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that a

By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Housing advocates say evictions are increasing around the country, several months after a federal moratorium was allowed to end. The rise in cases, although below pre-pandemic levels in most states and cities, shows the limits on the tens of billions of dollars in federal assistance and the

By AMY FORLITI Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin’s plea Wednesday means he will not face a federal trial in January, though he could end up spending more years behind bars. Chauvin, who is white,

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania says it has closed its embassy in Beijing and pulled its last diplomat out of the Chinese capital. The move comes amid a spat over the European Union nation allowing Taiwan to open a representative office in its capital. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Baltic

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top official says omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of the bloc’s population fully vaccinated. Von der

BERLIN (AP) — A German federal court has rejected appeals in the case of a neo-Nazi convicted of supporting a group that carried out the country’s biggest killing spree targeting migrants since World War II. Wednesday’s decision concludes legal proceedings in a saga that shocked Germany. The Federal Court of Justice upheld the man’s 2018

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing questions about his future after almost 100 Conservative lawmakers defied him and opposed new restrictions to help slow the fast-spreading omicron variant. The measures were approved with opposition support and took effect Wednesday. Conservative lawmaker Mark Harper said the vote

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer Colleges across the U.S. are starting to require booster shots, extend mask mandates and in some cases revert to online classes as they brace for the new omicron variant. More than 20 colleges have said they will require boosters, including Boston University and Notre Dame. Others are extending mask

The Associated Press Stocks are edging lower in early trading on Wall Street Wednesday as traders wait to hear from the Federal Reserve after its last policy statement of the year. The Fed is widely expected to announce a faster pullback of its stimulus measures as inflationary pressures build. The S&P 500 was off 0.1%

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Much of the Midwest is bracing for high winds, heavy rain and a chance of tornadoes as temperatures felt like summertime despite the official start of winter being only days away. Forecasters across the Plains states predicted unusually warm weather Wednesday, including likely record-breaking high temperatures in the mid-70s for much

By AMIR VAHDAT and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog and Iran have reached a deal to reinstall cameras damaged at a site that manufactures centrifuge parts. However, inspectors remain limited on what footage they can access. The agreement Wednesday will see cameras put back at Karaj, which

Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A teacher in South Florida has been fired for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask. The school board in Broward County on Tuesday unanimously voted to fire John C. Alvarez, a science teacher at Piper High School for gross insubordination. Alvarez plans to appeal the decision to an

Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A South Florida school district will pay more than $26 million to the families of 17 people killed in the 2018 shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Money also will go to some survivors of the shooting. The Broward County school board approved the settlements on