AP National News

BEIRUT (AP) — A group of protesters have stormed a ministry building in Beirut as the Lebanese pound hit a new low amid a worsening economic and political stalemate. The protesters who stormed the Ministry of Social Affairs on Friday said conditions in the crisis-hit country have become unbearable as a result of the rapid

By DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — A senior regional official says search teams have found a survivor in a Siberian coal mine where dozens of miners are presumed dead after a devastating methane explosion. Kemerovo region Governor Sergei Tsivilyov said on the messaging app Telegram on Friday that a survivor was found in

By DAVID RISING and EDNA TARIGAN Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia has recovered significantly from a mid-year spike in coronavirus cases and deaths that was one of the worst in the region, but with its vaccination drive stalling and with holidays approaching, experts and officials warn it could soon face another surge. Most

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks and oil prices have tumbled after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. London’s benchmark fell 3.3% at the opening and Tokyo lost 2.5%. Shanghai, Frankfurt and Hong Kong also declined. Wall Street

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — The German air force will begin assisting the transfer of intensive care patients Friday as the government warned that the situation in the country is more serious than at any point in the pandemic. Citing the sharp rise in cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn said contacts between

By DAVID RISING and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Violence has receded in the capital of the Solomon Islands, but the government has shown no signs of attempting to address the underlying grievances that sparked two days of riots, including concerns of the country’s increasing links with China. Solomon Islands Prime Minister

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli Health Ministry says it has detected the country’s first case of a new coronavirus variant in a traveler who returned from Malawi. The Health Ministry said in a statement Friday that the traveler and two other suspected cases have been placed in isolation. A new coronavirus variant has been detected

By DANICA KIRKA, JOHN LEICESTER and PAN PYLAS Associated Press CALAIS, France (AP) — France has reacted angrily to new British proposals for dealing with the deadly flow of migrants between their shores. A British letter and France’s response to it are the latest crossing of swords in what has become an increasingly fractious relationship

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Solomon Islands’ decision to switch its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing has been blamed for arson and looting in the national capital Honiara, where protesters are demanding the prime minister’s resignation. Australian police, troops and diplomats are helping local police restore peace and order

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

MOSCOW (AP) — A top local official says search teams have found a survivor in a Siberian coal mine where dozens of miners are presumed dead after a devastating methane explosion. Sergei Tsivilyov, governor of the Kemerovo region where the mine is located, said on the messaging app Telegram that a survivor was found in

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — Like others in Europe, Switzerland is facing a steep rise in coronavirus cases. But its federal government, unlike others, hasn’t responded with new lockdown measures. Analysts say it doesn’t want to stir up more opposition to its anti-COVID-19 measures, which face a crucial test at the ballot

ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish Defense Ministry says a Turkish soldier has been killed trying to stop people crossing into Syria. Infantry Specialist Sergeant Savas Dinc was wounded “during the intervention (against) people trying to cross illegally from Turkey to Syria,” the ministry said in a statement Friday. He was transferred to a hospital in

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers are expected to usher in the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season Friday with bigger crowds than last year in a closer step toward normalcy. But the fallout from the pandemic continues to weigh on businesses and shoppers’ minds. Buoyed by solid hiring,

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is planning to stop air travel from southern Africa to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant as the 27-nation bloc is battling a massive spike in cases. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said that “the last thing we need is to bring

By SALAR SALIM Associated Press IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A second group of Iraqis has returned home on a repatriation flight after a failed bid to enter the European Union. Over 570 people returned on two flights that landed in Irbil airport in the northern Kurdish-run region Friday morning. Most were Iraqi Kurds. Over a

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — As several European nations tighten up or lock down to combat a spike in coronavirus infections, life in Britain is almost back to normal. Pubs, restaurants, theaters and shops are all busy. This is not the first time in the pandemic that Britain has been out of

CALAIS, France (AP) — French fishing crews are threatening to block French ports and traffic under the English Channel on Friday to disrupt the flow of goods to the U.K. It’s the latest tension point between the neighboring countries. French fishermen are angry at the British government for not granting more licenses to fish in

By SALAR SALIM Associated Press IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A second batch of Iraqis have returned home in repatriation flights after a failed bid to enter Europe. Over 170 people returned on a flight that landed in Irbil airport in the northern Kurdish-run region Friday morning. Most were Iraqi Kurds. It was the second flight

By CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — One of Thailand’s major fast food chains has been promoting its “Crazy Happy Pizza” this month, an under-the-radar product topped with a cannabis leaf. It’s legal but won’t get you high. A spokesman for the purveyors, The Pizza Company, says it is marketed to take advantage of