Here's what's happening across the United States and around the world today.
Pakistan military: Dozens of militants killed in ambush
ISLAMABAD (AP) —Pakistani jets and ground forces have killed dozens of militants in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border.
The military says it carried out the operations Thursday and Friday, killing 67 militants.
The operations come days after a Taliban attack at a school killed 148 people — mostly children.
Pakistan to appeal bail for Mumbai attacker
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani prosecutor says the government will try to cancel the bail granted to the main suspect in the Mumbai terror attacks.
The Special public prosecutor says he'll appeal to the High Court to cancel the bail given to Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi on Thursday by an anti-terrorism court.
He says so far Lakhvi has not been freed from jail.
The 2008 attack in the Indian city of Mumbai killed 166 people.
Lakhvi is one of seven people on trial in Pakistan for the assault, but the trial has produced no results so far. It has been closed to the media.
India reacted with outrage to the news that the main suspect in the case was going to be released.
8 children killed in northern Australian city
SYDNEY (AP) — Police in Australia aren't saying how eight children, ages 18 months to 15 years, died.
Their bodies were found in a home Friday in the Cairns (kanz) suburb of Manoora.
The mother of seven of the children was also in the home, with stab wounds to her chest. She's in the hospital. Police say the 34-year-old woman's 20-year-old son came home and found his seven siblings and another child relative dead.
Companies on high alert
ATLANTA (AP) — Companies across the globe are on high alert to tighten up network security following the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
A U.S. official has said investigators believe the attack is linked to North Korea.
Sony canceled the release of its movie "The Interview," a comedy about two American journalists involved in a CIA plot to assassinate North Korea's leader.
Poll: Americans skeptical of commercial drones
WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Americans say they are skeptical that the benefits of the heralded drone revolution will outweigh the risks to privacy and safety, although a majority approve of using small, unmanned aircraft for dangerous jobs or in remote areas.
An Associated Press-GfK poll finds that by a 2-1 margin those who had an opinion opposed using drones for commercial purposes. Only 21 percent favor commercial use.
The government prohibits most commercial use of drones but is about to propose regulations to broaden the use of small ones.
It may be two or three years before the rules take effect, but once they do thousands are expected to buzz U.S. skies.
A trade group estimates drones will create 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact in the first 10 years they're allowed.
EPA expected to treat coal waste like garbage
WASHINGTON (AP) — Environmentalists and industry experts expect the first federal standards for waste generated from coal burned for electricity to treat the ash more like household garbage than a hazardous material.
The EPA is expected to issue a rule today, ending a six-year effort that began after a massive spill at a Tennessee power plant in 2008. Since then, the EPA has documented coal ash waste sites tainting hundreds of waterways and underground aquifers in numerous states.
Environmentalists wanted coal ash to be classified as hazardous, which would put Washington in charge of enforcement. The coal industry fought back, citing costs and a damping effect on the recycling market. About 40 percent is reused.
By putting it in same category as trash, citizens and states would enforce the standards.
Sides 'far apart' in West Coast port negotiations
LOS ANGELES (AP) — West Coast dockworkers and their employers remain far apart in negotiating a new contract. It's been six months since the old one expired, and West Coast seaports are struggling to keep up with billions of dollars of cargo.
Longshoremen have continued to work without a contract at 29 ports from San Diego to Seattle, though their employers accuse them of deliberately slowing their pace.
Farmers, unionists protest EU-US free trade talks
BRUSSELS (AP) — Hundreds of farmers and trade unionists are protesting in Brussels against negotiations to set up a trans-Atlantic free trade zone, which they fear will leave them out in the cold at the expense of big multinationals.
Farmers built fires and set off firecrackers close to EU headquarters early today, where only a few hours earlier a summit of EU government leaders had ended.
A coalition of trade unionists, environmentalists and farmers fear that a trans-Atlantic trade deal will weaken environmental protection standards and further decrease subsidies to an agricultural sector already squeezed in the wake of the crisis.
The talks have been bogged down for a year as both sides try to find agreements on everything from the financial services sector to food safety.
Hearing set for restrictive NYC jail dorm
NEW YORK (AP) — Inmate advocates and others plan to voice their opposition to a proposed 250-bed restrictive housing unit on Rikers Island for violent inmates.
The jail oversight board is sponsoring a public hearing on the $14.8 million proposed plan today.
Jails Commissioner Joseph Ponte (PAHNT) says "enhanced supervision housing" is necessary to contain the small number of inmates responsible for a disproportionate amount of jail violence.
But he's also said planned solitary confinement reforms won't take place until the unit's created.
The plan would allow jailers to lock inmates in their cells for up to 17 hours daily, instead of eight and restrict their access to the law library, among other changes.
Advocates say the plan is overly broad, punitive and can violate inmate rights.
Michael Phelps' DUI trial set Friday in Baltimore
BALTIMORE (AP) — Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps is set for trial on drunken driving and other charges.
The 18-time gold medalist was arrested on Sept. 30. Documents show that the 29-year-old was leaving the Horseshoe Casino when he was pulled over for speeding and crossing the double yellow line on a highway. Police say Phelps registered a .14 percent on a blood-alcohol test. The legal limit to drive is .08 percent in Maryland.
If convicted today, Phelps faces up to a year in jail.
In 2004, Phelps, who was then 19, pleaded guilty to DUI on Maryland's Eastern Shore. His conviction was waived because he was a young first-time offender.
After this year's arrest, USA Swimming suspended Phelps for six months. Phelps entered a six-week treatment program in October.
That's what's happening. Read more stories to jump start your day in our special Breakfast Buzz section.
