AP National News

By RAF CASERT and ANDREW MELDRUM Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — New findings about the coronavirus’s omicron variant made it clear that the emerging threat slipped into countries before their defenses were up, as two distant nations announced their first cases and a third reported its presence before South African officials sounded the alarm. The

BERLIN (AP) — Automakers Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis have announced agreements with U.S. company Factorial Energy to help develop solid state battery technology. Mercedes-Benz, which is part of Daimler AG, said it is joining forces with Factorial to jointly develop batteries with the aim of testing prototype cells as early as next year. It said it

LONDON (AP) — New restrictions to combat the omicron variant have taken effect in England, with face masks again compulsory in shops and on public transport. Beginning Tuesday morning, all travelers returning to the U.K. must also take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The reintroduction of mandatory face masks

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian authorities say they have seized over 500 kilograms (1,000 pounds) of amphetamine pills known by the brand name Captagon hidden in pasta packages in a van bound for Saudi Arabia. The statement Tuesday on the official state news agency SANA said an investigation was underway to determine who was behind

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health advisers are reviewing Merck’s closely watched COVID-19 pill, which could become the first easy-to-use drug for American patients. The Food and Drug Administration asked its outside experts Tuesday whether the agency should authorize the pill. They will weigh new data that the pill is

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices rose briskly in September, another sign that the housing market is booming in the aftermath of last year’s coronavirus recession.  The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price climbed 19.1% in September from a year earlier. The strong price gains marked a deceleration from

By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer The U.S. has improved its surveillance system for tracking new coronavirus variants such as omicron, boosting its capacity by tens of thousands of samples since early this year. The U.S. got a slow start compared to other nations where labs were conducting genetic sequencing on many more virus

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has sternly warned NATO against deploying its troops and weapons to Ukraine, saying it represents a red line for Russia and would trigger a strong response. Commenting on Western concerns about Russia’s alleged intention to invade Ukraine, he said that Moscow is equally

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a famous saying in the world of showbiz: “Never work with children or animals.” NBC is wisely ignoring that as it mounts a live version of the hit Broadway musical “Annie.” The tale of the spunky young orphan with her dog Sandy set during

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is asking China to release “verifiable proof” that tennis player Peng Shuai is safe. The EU also urged Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Peng’s sexual assault allegations against a former Communist Party official. Peng dropped out of public view this month after accusing the

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has called off a spacewalk because of menacing space junk. Two U.S. astronauts were set to replace a bad antenna outside of the International Space Station on Tuesday. But late Monday night, Mission Control learned that a piece of orbiting debris might come

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica Seinfeld became a vegan almost by stealth. The cookbook author and philanthropist started quietly making separate meals for herself without dairy or meat. Over time, she has managed to win over her three teenage kids and her husband, comedian Jerry Seinfeld. They all eat

By MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — U.S. officials are considering a new method for testing water that could show more places have elevated lead levels than previously believed. The pending change under review at the Environmental Protection Agency is intended to test the water sitting in lead service lines, instead of water

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Residents in Greece over age 60 will be fined 100 euros a month if they fail to get vaccinated against the coronavirus under the first general COVID-19 mandate announced by the country’s government. The measure was announced in response to a surge in cases and the emergence of the omicron variant.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has reported that its economy grew at an 8.4% annual pace in the July-September quarter in the latest sign of an economic recovery in Asia’s third-largest economy. India suffered one of the biggest setbacks among major economies this year with the pandemic. Growth in the April-June quarter jumped 20%, the

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s parliament has authorized the government to call a national referendum on LGBT issues. Lawmakers from the governing Fidesz party on Tuesday approved four referendum questions pertaining to sex education programs in schools and the availability to children of information on sex reassignment to children. The

LONDON (AP) — New measures to combat the new omicron variant of coronavirus have come into force in England, with face coverings again compulsory in shops and on public transport. From Tuesday morning, all travelers returning to the U.K. must also take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The reintroduction

BERLIN (AP) — German investigators say 14 suspects have been arrested in an investigation of a gang accused of bringing nearly five metric tons (5.5 U.S. tons) of cocaine from South America to Germany. German police said the investigation that led to Tuesday’s arrest was triggered by the seizure in a shipping container in Santos,

BERLIN (AP) — German police are looking for witnesses after burglars broke through the wall of a toy store to steal dozens of Lego sets. Police said Tuesday that the theft took place over the weekend in the western town of Lippstadt. The burglars left about 100 empty cardboard boxes behind, German news agency dpa

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland says consumer prices have risen 7.7% over the past year, the highest inflation rate in 20 years and a larger jump than economists had predicted. The November number is evidence that inflation is accelerating even faster than had been expected in the largest central European economy in the European Union.