AP National News

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — Omicron is shining a spotlight on the disparities between who gets paid sick days and who doesn’t. Nearly 80% of all private sector workers get at least one paid sick day, according to a national compensation survey of employee benefits conducted in March by the U.S. Bureau

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writers Millions of workers whose jobs don’t provide paid sick days are having to choose between their health and their paycheck as the omicron variant of COVID-19 rages across the nation. While many companies instituted more robust sick leave policies at the beginning of the pandemic, some

By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — A leading Sudanese protest group has rejected a United Nations initiative to hold talks with the military aimed at restoring the country’s democratic transition following an October coup. The move suggests Sudan’s political deadlock and relentless street protests are likely to continue, with at least 60 people

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s ruling parties are hitting the brakes on plans for compulsory coronavirus vaccinations, saying it may take months for lawmakers to properly debate the contentious measure in parliament. German media reported that a bill may not pass both houses of parliament until April, and implementation could take

by RADUL RADOVANOVIC Associated Press BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Under growing international pressure over their leader’s secessionist aspirations, Bosnian Serbs have celebrated an outlawed holiday with a provocative parade showcasing armored vehicles, police helicopters and law enforcement officers with rifles, marching in lockstep and singing a nationalist song. The Jan. 9 holiday commemorates the

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s new parliament has held its first session, nearly three months after Iraqis voted in a general election whose results have been contested by powerful Iran-backed factions. The meeting ushers in what is likely to be a lengthy period of political wrangling among rival groups to choose

By BEN FOX Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Advocates for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center were hopeful when President Joe Biden took office. And they were relieved this summer as the U.S. released a prisoner. Many are now increasingly impatient. In the months since that release, there have been few signs of progress in

By KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The president of debt-ridden Sri Lanka has asked China for the restructuring of its loans and access to preferential credit for imports of essential goods, as the island nation struggles in the throes of its worst economic crisis. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told visiting Chinese Foreign

By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Joe Biden wraps up his first year in the White House, he has held fewer news conferences than any of  his five immediate predecessors at the same point in their presidencies. He also has participated in fewer media interviews than any of his recent predecessors.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Advocates say that Saudi authorities have released a princess detained in the kingdom under mysterious circumstances for nearly three years. The princess, Basmah bint Saud, a daughter of Saudi Arabia’s second king, disappeared with her daughter in March 2019 and landed in a notorious Saudi prison without charge, she

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani counterterrorism police say they have killed six militants from the Islamic State group in an overnight raid at a hideout in the southwestern city of Quetta. A police statement issued Sunday said the raid was based on strong intelligence that the militants were preparing to stage an attack in the

By YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. and Japan have agreed to keep American troops within their bases as worries grew about a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country. A joint statement says the restrictions starting Monday will last 14 days, confining U.S. military personnel to base facilities except for

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have dismantled a drug-trafficking ring that allegedly brought hashish and marijuana from Morocco to southern Spain by helicopter and then transported it to France by road. The Guardia Civil said in a statement Sunday it seized 2.4 metric tons (2.65 tons) of hashish and 112 kilograms (247 pounds)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Officials say roads at a popular Pakistani resort are clear after the deaths of 22 people who were stuck in their cars during a heavy snowstorm as temperatures plummeted. More than 4 feet (1 meter) of snow fell in the area of the Murree Hills resort in the town of Murree near

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ foreign minister has resigned his post amid swirling speculation over his intention to run for president of the east Mediterranean island nation next year that he said undermined the work of his ministry and that of the government. Nikos Christodoulides told reporters on Sunday that he offered his resignation to

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s ruling parties are hitting the brakes on plans for compulsory coronavirus vaccinations, saying it may take months for lawmakers to properly debate the contentious measure in parliament. German media reported that a bill may not pass both houses of parliament until April, and implementation could take until June. A poll published

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A government official says gunmen have released 30 Nigerian students who spent nearly seven months in captivity. They are the latest batch in the release of dozens of Kebbi state students abducted in June. Yahaya Sarki, a spokesperson for Kebbi governor, said in a statement that

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has baptized 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel to resume a decades-old Vatican tradition. The ceremony wasn’t held last year because of the pandemic. Francis told the parents of the nine girls and seven boys that their duty was to preserve the Christian identity of their children. He sought

By JIM HEINTZ Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — The office of Kazakhstan’s president says about 5,800 people were detained by police during protests that burst into violence last week and prompted a Russia-led military alliance to send troops to the country. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s office said Sunday that order had stabilized in the country and