As Brazil's wetlands burned, government did little to help

PORTO JOFRE, Brazil (AP) — After hours navigating Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands in search of jaguars earlier this month, Daniel Moura beached his boat to survey the fire damage. In every direction, he saw only devasta…

The Latest: Czech government declares state of emergency

PRAGUE — The Czech government has declared a state of emergency because of a record surge of coronavirus infections.

Arrest made in racist vandalism of suburban Detroit home

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — An arrest has been made in connection with vandalism and shots fired into the home of a Black suburban Detroit family who have a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window, police said.

Indonesian hostage dies in Philippine army, militant battle

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — One of the five Indonesians held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines was killed Wednesday during a clash with troops, an Indonesian official said.

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Secret grand jury files in Breonna Taylor case to be public

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The workings of a Kentucky grand jury that brought no charges against police in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor are set to be opened, upending a long tradition of keeping those proceedin…

US says it will block palm oil from large Malaysian producer

The United States will block shipments of palm oil from a major Malaysian producer that feeds into the supply chains of iconic U.S. food and cosmetic brands. It found indicators of forced labor, including concerns …

School officials charged over lead, asbestos contamination

The former superintendent of a Pennsylvania school district and two other officials were charged Wednesday with felony child endangerment over allegations they knew about lead and asbestos contamination in the scho…

Appalachian State student dies following COVID complications

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina system reported its first coronavirus-related student death on Tuesday since several campuses reopened with at least partial in-person learning last month.

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-RESTAURANTS-SALES — Chart. The National Restaurant Association says nearly 100,000 U.S. restaurants have shut their doors since the pandemic began. Monthly U.S. restaurant sales hit their lowest poin…

Trump is urged to intervene in trial of US-Saudi national

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The trial of a U.S. citizen who is also a Saudi national began Wednesday in Saudi Arabia in a counter-terrorism court that has been used to imprison rights activists in a case tha…

Rare earthquake shakes parts of Denmark, no damage, injuries

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A rare earthquake with magnitude 3.4 occurred Wednesday in the North Sea off Denmark, officials said, adding it was “relatively large” for the Scandinavian country.

Iraq hopes US reconsiders embassy closure, warns of danger

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's foreign minister on Wednesday said his country hopes the U.S. will reconsider its decision to close its diplomatic mission in Baghdad, as a group of ambassadors expressed their willingness to …

Bright flash lights up dark skies over parts of eastern US

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A bright flash lit up the skies over parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio in the wee hours of Wednesday, and officials aren't yet sure what it was.

UN atomic watchdog inspects disputed Iranian nuclear site

BERLIN (AP) — The United Nations' atomic watchdog agency said Wednesday its inspectors have been able to visit the second of two disputed sites where Iran is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear ma…