AP National News

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — A report based on U.S. trade data shows American companies are still importing teak from Myanmar despite sanctions imposed after the military seized power. Teak is one of the most valuable hardwoods, used in yachts, home flooring and in expensive furniture. U.S. importers were still receiving

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The Serbian Orthodox Church says the Patriarch, Porfirije, has tested positive for COVID-19. The church said on Tuesday that Porfirije has developed “very mild symptoms of the virus infection” and remains in home isolation. He is in contact “through electronic communications” with his associates and performs administrative duties entirely without problems,

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — European benchmarks have risen after Asian shares mostly declined following a retreat on Wall Street. Oil prices and U.S. futures advanced on Tuesday. Investors are keeping an eye on rising numbers of coronavirus cases, especially in China, where a third city has locked down its residents

By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — Yemeni officials say forces of the internationally recognized government have reclaimed the entire southern province of Shabwa from Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The seizure of Shabwa is a blow to the rebels after government forces earlier this month made significant advances in the south. Taking Shabwa would enable

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea and Japan say North Korea has fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into its eastern sea. Tuesday’s launch comes as North Korea continues to demonstrate its military might during a self-imposed pandemic lockdown and deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States.

By VANESSA GERA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland has become the latest European nation to reach the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths related to the coronavirus. Nearly a quarter of those deaths — some 24,000 — occurred in the most recent wave of infection that began in October, a period in which vaccines

By DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — The president of Kazakhstan has announced that a Russia-led security alliance will start pulling out its troops from the Central Asian country in two days after completing its mission. The mostly Russian troops were deployed to Kazakhstan last week by the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an alliance

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ Geological Survey Department says a 6.1-magnitude earthquake has rattled the small island nation and has been felt throughout the east Mediterranean region. No damage or injuries have so far been reported. The powerful tremor occurred in the early hours of Tuesday and its epicenter was 50 kilometers (31 miles) off

By JOHN PYE and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tennis star Novak Djokovic has held a practice session at Melbourne Park on his second day out of detention, focusing on his Australian Open title defense while still facing the prospect of deportation because he’s not vaccinated for COVID-19. The top-ranked Serbian hit

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares have mostly declined in cautious trading following a retreat on Wall Street. Investors are keeping an eye on rising numbers of coronavirus cases, especially in China. Benchmarks fell Tuesday in Tokyo, Sydney and Shanghai but rose in South Korea and Hong Kong. A third

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — David Sassoli, the Italian journalist who worked his way up in politics and became president of the European Union’s parliament, has died at a hospital in Italy. He was 65. His spokesperson announced his death in a tweet. He did not provide any details, but said in

By MARK PRATT Associated Press A mass of arctic air swept into the Northeast, bringing bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures and closing schools across the region for the second time in less than a week. Many school said they didn’t want children standing outside for extended periods of time waiting for buses. Worcester, Massachusetts, schools in a

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Democrats have a huge advantage as South Florida voters look to fill a U.S. House seat that’s been vacant since April. A special election in the 20th Congressional District on Tuesday pits Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick against Republican Jason Mariner. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a nearly 5-1

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE, COLLEEN LONG and JEFF AMY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden in recent days has singled out the protection of voting rights in the U.S. as a top priority. He’s heading to Georgia with the vice president on Tuesday afternoon to help cement that point. But civil rights activists are

WASHINGTON (AP) — European Parliament President David Sassoli has died at a hospital in Italy, his spokesman said in a tweet Tuesday. No details were offered in the tweet by spokesman Roberto Cuillo beyond Sassoli’s death at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday in Aviano, a city in northeastern Italy. Sassoli had been hospitalized since Dec. 26 due

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, BEN FOX and CLAUDIA TORRENS Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Stalled negotiations for the U.S. government to pay families separated at the border during Donald Trump’s presidency have brought new threats of extortion against some families. Last month, the Justice Department withdrew from settlement talks over financial compensation for their suffering, but

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Stetson Bennett delivered the biggest throws of his storybook career and Georgia’s defense sealed the sweetest victory in program history, vanquishing rival Alabama 33-18 to win the College Football Playoff title game. The Bulldogs won their first national championship in 41 years. Bennett connected

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer The Beijing Winter Olympics are fraught with potential hazards for major sponsors. They are trying to remain quiet about China’s human rights record while protecting the billions they’ve collectively paid to the IOC for the branding rights. The International Olympic Committee’s top sponsors include household names like Coca-Cola, Procter

By ROD McGUIRK and JOHN PYE Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The prime ministers of Australia and Serbia have discussed Novak Djokovic’s precarious visa after the top-ranked Serbian tennis star won a court battle to compete in the Australian Open but still faces the threat of deportation because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.

By SAM COWIE and DAVID BILLER Associated Press BOA VISTA, Brazil (AP) — The scorching Amazon sun beats down as agents inspect the body of a black helicopter. Nearby, in the backyard of the federal police headquarters in the city of Boa Vista, sit more than twenty aircraft — all seized. Some bear signs of