Year: 2022

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since mid-November. U.S. jobless claims climbed by 23,000 last week to 230,000, still low by historic standards. The four-week moving average, which smooths out week-to-week blips, was up nearly 6,300 to

By SYLVIA HUI Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British officials say the self-isolation period for people in England who test positive for COVID-19 will be reduced from next week to five full days, instead of seven. Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Thursday that early signs suggest the rate of hospitalization from the coronavirus is

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Montenegrin police have seized nearly half a ton of cocaine reportedly hidden in a banana shipment. The official RTCG television says more than 400 kilos (880 pounds) were found in a warehouse in the capital Podgorica on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic hailed the seizure in a Tweet without revealing

NEW YORK (AP) — Sandra Boynton’s prolific career as an author, cartoonist and songwriter has reached a scale so vast that a publisher has formed an imprint dedicated solely to her books. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing announced on Thursday the launch of Boynton Bookworks, which will be home to her dozens of previous works,

By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — Sudanese activists say security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital of Khartoum. Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday against a coup that has plunged the country into grinding deadlock. The demonstrations in Khartoum and other cities across Sudan

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — Senior U.N. refugee agency and European Union officials are accusing Latvia, Lithuania and Poland of using questionable methods to keep out migrants trying to enter from Belarus. Officials say the three countries also continue to deny access to aid groups that want to help people stuck in

MADRID (AP) — Spain is introducing price controls for COVID-19 home testing kits after an outcry over reports of price-gouging during the Christmas holidays, when demand for the rapid antigen tests outpaced supply. Authorities announced Thursday that the maximum price for the kits on sale at pharmacies from Saturday will be 2.94 euros ($3.37). Health

By DAVID BILLER and JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press SAO PAULO (AP) — A Sao Paulo-based company called Marsam is known for its commitment to the responsible sourcing of precious metals. But an investigation by the  Associated Press has found that it processes gold for — and shared ownership links to — an intermediary accused by

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lionel Richie will be honored all night long for his musical achievements. The Library of Congress said Thursday that Richie will receive the national library’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He will be bestowed the prize at an all-star tribute in Washington, D.C., on

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Top negotiators from Britain and the European Union are meeting in hopes of resolving their a thorny dispute over Northern Ireland trade. U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic are holding talks at Chevening House, the foreign secretary’s official country retreat. Sefcovic

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark will offer fourth coronavirus vaccination shots to risk groups and vulnerable citizens as the pandemic situation in the country has worsened due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said Wednesday that health authorities would offer fourth vaccine jabs to the “most vulnerable groups”