FBI offers up to $25,000 reward for information about suspect behind Northwest ballot box fires

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The FBI said Wednesday it is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information about the suspect behind recent ballot box fires in Oregon and Washington state. Authorities believe a male suspect that may have metalworking and welding experience was behind...

Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson won the House Republican nomination Wednesday to stay on the job, on track to keep the gavel after a morning endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump ahead of a full House vote in the new year. While Johnson has no serious...

All eyes on tight US House races in California as GOP on threshold of controlling the chamber

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republicans and Democrats awaited the outcome of vote-counting for crucial U.S. House districts in California on Wednesday, as the GOP moved within one win of maintaining control of the chamber next year. In a rematch from 2022, Rep. Ken Calvert — the...

Maine elections chief who drew Trump's ire narrates House tabulations in livestream

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s elections chief, a former civil liberties advocate who sparred with President-elect Donald Trump over ballot access, is acting like a play-by-play sports announcer as she describes the state’s process of determining a congressional winner through ranked choice...

Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in January

Mexican legislators reelect head of human rights agency who failed to address abuses

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Legislators from Mexico’s ruling party reelected the head of the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday despite widespread opposition and her failure to call out the government for abuses. The reelection of Rosario Piedra in a party-line Senate vote...

Senate Republicans settle on a new party leader after seizing the majority on Election Day

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was the first seriously contested Senate Republican leadership election in decades. Three senators were competing to succeed longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, when he steps down from the post at the beginning of next year and Republicans take...

EU top jobs hearings stalled by political infighting over hard right alliances

BRUSSELS (AP) — The process of vetting candidates for some of the European Union’s most important jobs bogged down in acrimony on Wednesday as the biggest political faction in the bloc’s parliament was accused of collaborating with the hard right. Since Nov. 4, senior lawmakers...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he'll ask for a vote of confidence in December

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that he will ask for a vote of confidence on Dec. 16, paving the way for early parliamentary elections in February. He declared his plans during a speech in parliament, a week after his three-party coalition government collapsed. ...

Voting underway for presidential election in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Voting was underway Wednesday in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland in a key presidential election that was delayed for two years. Local media showed voters waiting in line to cast their ballots, with many saying they want a stronger economy and...