AP National News

By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has recommended an overhaul of the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to focus on areas that are most suitable for energy development and raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and water. The long-awaited report by the Interior Department on

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Appellate arguments over a lawsuit challenging South Carolina’s abortion law have been pushed into the new year. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says oral arguments have been rescheduled for the last week in January. They had originally been planned for next month. Planned Parenthood

By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — If you get a sense of déjà vu when you see actor Chris Diamantopoulos on screen, but can’t place his name, he’s OK with that. The actor regularly pops up in movies and TV shows as a variety of characters. His current roles are villains in

By DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities have released the names of 51 presumed victims of a devastating methane explosion in a coal mine in Siberia, a toll that makes the accident the deadliest since 2010. The list with names of 46 miners and five rescuers was published online by the government

By DANICA KIRKA and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press CALAIS, France (AP) — The already fractious relationship between France and Britain is spiralling further downward into anger and incomprehension in the turbulent aftermath of 27 migrant deaths this week. France reacted angrily Friday to new British proposals for dealing with the deadly flow of migrants between

By GRANT PECK Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — The United States and six other nations are calling on the international community to suspend all assistance to Myanmar’s military, and expressing grave concern over reports of human rights abuses by its security forces. Their call comes as fears of an escalation of violence grow in the

By KEN SWEET and PAUL WISEMAN NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market’s losses accelerated on Wall Street Friday, after a coronavirus variant from South Africa appeared to be spreading across the globe and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points. The

HAYDEN, Ala. (AP) — Authorities are trying to figure out how hundreds of FedEx packages ended up dumped in the woods in Alabama. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says 300 to 400 packages of various sizes were found in a ravine near the small town of Hayden on Wednesday. Sheriff Mark Moon said deputies were

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Online videos show police firing tear gas and fighting protesters with batons in a central Iranian city that has seen days of demonstrations demanding government action over a drought. The social media videos and others from activists show police and protesters clashing in the dry bed of the Zayandehrud

BERLIN (AP) — The far-right Alternative for Germany, which has opposed many of the country’s pandemic restrictions, has canceled its planned party congress next month due to the surge in coronavirus cases. Germany has seen record infection rates in recent days and this week passed the mark of 100,000 deaths since the start of the

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian cargo craft carrying a new docking module has successfully hooked up with the International Space Station after a two-day space journey. The new spherical module, named Prichal (Pier), docked with the orbiting outpost at 6:19 p.m. Moscow time (1519 GMT) Friday. It has six docking ports and will allow potential

By KEN SWEET and PAUL WISEMAN NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are sharply lower on Wall Street Friday after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 890 points after an hour of trading. The S&P 500

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans museum plans to launch an elaborate nighttime sound-and-light show next year to showcase individual stories of bravery and sacrifice during World War II. The National WII Museum plans to premier its “Expressions of America” show next November, on Veterans Day 2022. It will use music, art installations and

By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Five U.S. lawmakers have met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a surprise one-day visit intended to reaffirm America’s support for the self-governing island that is claimed by China. The visit comes as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades.

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford football has become a landing spot for Latter-day Saints players who have returned from their two-year missions. Cardinal coach David Shaw embraces these players and encourages them to share their voices and experiences with the group. Defensive coordinator Lance Anderson is a big reason

PARIS (AP) — French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin says shots were fired overnight at security forces and journalists on the French Caribbean island of Martinique amid violent protests over COVID-19 restrictions. Several police officers have been injured, Darmanin tweeted on Friday. He added that 10 people have been arrested. Martinique’s protesters this week joined a

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings. But the risks of the variant remained largely unknown. Medical experts, including the World Health Organization, warned

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is warning Russia that any attempt to invade Ukraine would have costs as concern mounts about a Russian military buildup near its former Soviet neighbor’s borders. Ukraine says Moscow kept about 90,000 troops near their common border following massive war games in western

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Two Auburn University students have won the $1 million first-place prize in a fishing tournament. The event was the Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships. Logan Parks and Tucker Smith topped 350 teams in the three-day event at Table Rock Lake in Ridgedale, Missouri, pulling in

The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are sharply lower on Wall Street Friday after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 890 points after an hour of trading. The S&P 500 index was down