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MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Nicaragua’s government has announced that it will withdraw from the Organization of American States, a regional body that accused President Daniel Ortega’s government of acts of repression and rigging this month’s election. Nicaragua Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said in a news conference Friday that he has notified OAS Secretary General Luis

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — Another week of Brexit negotiations still left the European Union awaiting a firm counterproposal from the United Kingdom to ease a standoff over how to deal with Britain’s departure from the bloc. Both sides are fighting over differences in how to regulate trade in Northern Ireland, which

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The European Medicines Agency has issued emergency use advice for using Merck’s COVID-19 pill, even though the oral medicine has not yet been authorized. The Amsterdam-based EU regulator said Friday that the antiviral pill, known as molnupiravir, can be used to treat adults infected with the coronavirus who don’t yet need extra

By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — A lawmaker from Pakistan’s ruling party says the government dropped a controversial clause allowing for chemical castration of convicted rapists from a proposed bill, after a council of clerics said such a punishment was against Islam. The lawmaker says the clause was excluded before the government sent

By EVA VERGARA and JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chileans are voting for president Sunday with a mix of dread, optimism and above all uncertainty about what lies ahead after a wave of social and political unrest that includes the current effort to rewrite the constitution. The country has long been a

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The European Union’s drug regulator says it’s started evaluating the coronavirus pill made by Pfizer Inc. to see if it might be used in emergency situations before it’s officially authorized. In a statement Friday, the European Medicines Agency said it’s looking at data on the effectiveness of Pfizer’s antiviral pill when given

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Senate Democrats said Friday they oppose the reappointment of Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve, as President Joe Biden is expected to announce within days who he will pick for the nation’s most powerful economic position. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island and

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writer Stocks wobbled in afternoon trading on Wall Street Friday and major indexes were on track for a mixed finish to a choppy week. The S&P 500 edged up 0.2%, a day after setting another record high. It’s still on track for a weekly gain. The Nasdaq, which also

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — New Year’s Eve celebrations will again be muted in the Netherlands after the government banned fireworks on Dec. 31 for the second straight year amid soaring coronavirus infections. The government said Friday that the ban is intended “to prevent, as much as possible, extra strain on health care, law enforcement

By ROB GILLIES Associated Press HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Canada’s health regulator has approved Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot. Health Canada authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 on Friday. And as in the U.S., the doses will be a third of the amount given to teens and adults. The agency says the

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s health authorities are trying a new technique to urge the people get the COVID-19 vaccine — cooperating with the Muslim community at Friday prayers. Imams around Kosovo called on the faithful to have the jab, and medical teams waited in the mosques’ yards to inoculate believers. Despite a recent fall