AP National News

By CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press New York has announced three more cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, bringing to eight the number of state cases linked to the new variant. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday said the cases appear to be unrelated. Seven of them have been found in New York City and

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has plenty of options to make good on its pledge to hit Russia financially if President Vladimir Putin sends troops into Ukraine. Financial experts and former diplomats say the possibilities range from sanctions hitting Putin’s associates to cutting Russia off from the financial system

The Associated Press OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The parents of the 15-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of four students at a Michigan high school have entered not guilty pleas to involuntary manslaughter charges. James and Jennifer Crumbley entered their pleas during a Zoom hearing, hours after police said they were arrested while hiding

By COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan school leader says a third party will investigate events at Oxford High School leading up to a school shooting that left four students dead and six other students and a teacher wounded. Oxford schools Superintendent Tim Throne said in a statement that he called

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the Pentagon intends to work better with private industry to develop high-tech systems and to strengthen relations with allies in the Indo-Pacific region in order to maintain a competitive edge over China,. Austin says recent military activity and aggressive moves by

By DAVID BAUDER and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — CNN has fired anchor Chris Cuomo after details emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier this year. The network suspended Chris Cuomo earlier in the week to investigate

MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say they killed a Florida Institute of Technology student who lunged at a police officer with an “edged weapon” on the college campus Friday night. The Melbourne Police Department on Saturday said 18-year-old Alhaji M. Sow, of Riverdale, Georgia, was shot and killed by police and a school security guard

By REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press BARINAS, Venezuela (AP) — About 500 people have protested in support of a Venezuelan gubernatorial opposition candidate who was retroactively disqualified as the vote count showed him ahead in the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez. The protesters on Saturday insisted they are being robbed of the

By KATHLEEN FOODY and COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge has imposed a combined $1 million bond for the parents of the Michigan teen charged with killing four students at Oxford High School, hours after police said they were caught hiding in a commercial building. James and Jennifer Crumbley entered not

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A World War II veteran who was the last surviving officer of “Easy Company,” which inspired the HBO miniseries and book “Band of Brothers,” has died. Edward Shames was 99. An obituary posted by a funeral home said Shames, of Norfolk, Virginia, died peacefully at his home on Friday. Shames was

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities say a passenger on an arriving Southwest Airlines flight taxiing at Phoenix’s main airport opened a galley door, jumped out and ran to an airport fire station where he barricaded himself. The man’s identity wasn’t released and it wasn’t immediately clear why he jumped form Flight 4236 after its arrival from

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee appeals court has granted a new trial for a Black man who was convicted of aggravated assault by an all-white jury that deliberated in a room containing Confederate symbols. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Friday that Tim Gilbert deserves a new trial on charges stemming from a

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch royal house says that Princess Beatrix, the 83-year-old former Dutch queen, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The royal house said Saturday that Beatrix got tested after feeling “mild cold symptoms.” It says she is in isolation at home and abiding by rules for people who have tested

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe of Florida has shut down its online sports betting app after being dealt its latest legal defeat in a case that has halted a massive expansion of gambling throughout Florida. The tribe on Saturday said it will temporarily stop taking bets on its Hard Rock Sportsbook app in

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile has reported its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Authorities said Saturday that a foreign national residing in Chile returned from Ghana on Nov. 25 and tested positive in a PCR test at the Santiago airport. They say the foreigner, who had two Pfizer vaccines, is in

By AGOES BASOEKI Associated Press LUMAJANG, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s highest volcano on Java island has spewed thick columns of ash, searing gas and lava down its slopes in a sudden eruption triggered by heavy rains. At least one villager died from burns and 41 were hospitalized. Mount Semeru’s eruption in East Java province left

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government has tightened travel restrictions amid concerns about the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant. It said all travelers arriving in England will need to take a COVID-19 test before they board their flight. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new rules will apply from 4 a.m. London time Tuesday. He

PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Donald Trump’s new social media company and its special purpose acquisition company partner say the partner has agreements for $1 billion in capital from institutional investors. The former president launched Trump Media & Technology Group in October as he unveiled plans for a new messaging app called “Truth Social.” It

By AYA BATRAWY and SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — France’s president and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince held a joint phone call with Lebanon’s prime minister during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the kingdom. The call on Saturday represented a significant gesture amid a diplomatic and political crisis between Lebanon and

By ABDOULIE JOHN and CARLEY PETESCH Associated Press BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — Election officials in the West African nation of Gambia have started counting marble votes after polls closed for the first presidential election in decades that does not include former dictator Yahya Jammeh as a candidate. The vote is being seen as a test