Mexico to name education secretary as new US ambassador

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Wednesday he will nominate current Education Secretary Esteban Moctezuma as Mexico’s next ambassador to the United States.

World's space achievements a bright spot in stressful 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts blasted into orbit from the U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade, three countries sent spacecraft hurtling toward Mars, and robotic explorers grabbed rocks from the moon…

UK: Air pollution listed as cause of 9-year-old's death

LONDON (AP) — A British coroner ruled Wednesday that excessive air pollution from traffic fumes contributed to the death of a 9-year-old girl who died of a fatal asthma attack. The girl is believed to be the first …

Attorney general speaks publicly about fatal crash

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg said he's confident he didn't commit a crime when he struck and killed a man as he drove along a dark highway in September.

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Cookies, hot cocoa, pick-me-up notes: 'Sparks' of kindness

A tin of cookies is left on the running board of an ambulance outside a nursing home with a note for the emergency workers who operate it: “You’re AMAZING! Yes, you!”

Chihuahua dog missing for 5 years in California is found

POMONA, Calif. (AP) — A Chihuahua dog named Sweet-Pea who went missing five years ago in Southern California has been found and is back home.

Islamic State attacker's fugitive widow, man described as chief logistician sentenced to 30 years for 2015 Paris attacks

PARIS (AP) — Islamic State attacker's fugitive widow, man described as chief logistician sentenced to 30 years for 2015 Paris attacks.

China prepares for return of spacecraft with moon samples

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese ground crews are standing by for the landing of the first new samples of rocks and soil from the moon in more than 40 years.

The Latest: Northeast preps for impending major snow storm

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest developments on the winter storm moving across the Northeast (all times local):

From matzo to gumbo: Museum explores Southern Jewish life

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A new museum under construction in New Orleans will explore the journey of immigrant Jews and subsequent generations to the American South who brought with them a religious way of life they strug…

Human rights envoy criticizes Albania's handling of protests

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A top European human rights envoy on Wednesday said Albanian authorities should have shown restraint and avoided the use of excessive force in policing recent demonstrations over a man's fata…

New trial date for Nashville officer in fatal shooting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A new trial date has been set for a white Tennessee police officer charged with fatally shooting an armed Black man from behind during a chase.

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UK survey: Ethnic minorities less likely to take COVID jab

LONDON (AP) — People from ethnic minority backgrounds or with lower incomes are less likely to take the coronavirus vaccine being rolled out in Britain, research suggested Wednesday, raising concerns about whether …