AP National News

By SHEIKH SAALIQ Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — Coronavirus cases fueled by the highly transmissible omicron variant are rocketing through India, prompting the federal government and states to swiftly reintroduce a string of restrictions, including limits on gatherings. But India’s political leaders are busy campaigning ahead of crucial state polls, addressing packed rallies of

By KEN RITTER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The life of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will be celebrated by two American presidents and other Democratic leaders on Saturday, a testament to his impact on some of the most consequential legislation of the 21st century. President Joe Biden, House Speaker

BEIJING (AP) — Authorities say a strong overnight earthquake shook a sparsely populated area in western China and forced the suspension of high-speed rail service because of tunnel damage. Officials say four people with minor injuries in Menyuan Hui Autonomous County have been treated and released. The magnitude 6.9 quake struck at 1:45 a.m. Saturday

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — As a trailblazing actor to generations of Black performers in Hollywood, Sidney Poitier often spoke about his larger off-screen role. Poitier, who died Thursday at the age of 94, entered the film industry at a time when portrayals of African Americans were generally stereotypical. But

BEIJING (AP) — Renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou is promising a simpler opening ceremony for next month’s Beijing Winter Games with a bold and unprecedented way of lighting the Olympic flame. Zhang directed an awe-inspiring opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and is returning in the same role for the 2022

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico ended 2021 with an annualized inflation rate of 7.36%, the highest in 20 years. The national statistics institute said Friday that inflation in December was led by fresh food products, air travel and other rising costs. The institute said annual inflation had last been this high in 2001. Mexico’s central

By JESSICA GRESKO and GARY FIELDS Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Lani Guinier, a civil rights lawyer and scholar whose nomination by President Bill Clinton to head the Justice Department’s civil rights division was pulled after conservatives criticized her views on correcting racial discrimination, has died. She was 71. Harvard Law School Dean John F.

By ASTRID SUÁREZ Associated Press CALI, Colombia (AP) — For the first time in years, Víctor Escobar stopped taking most of the medicines needed for his lung disease. There was no longer any need. On Friday evening he became the first Colombian to be euthanized despite not yet being in a terminal condition. He had

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tested positive for COVID-19, as case numbers hit new highs across the country and health officials warned that the real number of cases is likely much higher than testing shows. Turnbull, who was Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, confirmed on Twitter he was isolating

By LISA BAUMANN Associated Press BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — At least one person was missing and presumed dead as snow turned to rain and deluged the Pacific Northwest, causing flooding, landslides and avalanche danger in the mountains. Authorities say a man was swept away by floodwaters Friday and presumed dead west of Olympia, Washington. Portions

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Florida man with homemade explosive devices was arrested near a Tampa Bay area rally in support of a man jailed in connection with last year’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says 22-year-old Garrett James Smith was arrested early Friday morning. To mark

BEIJING (AP) — Authorities say a lunchtime explosion at an office cafeteria killed 16 people in southwest China on Friday and injured 10 others. A gas leak is the suspected cause. The cafeteria collapsed, trapping victims inside. Rescue workers searched the debris into the night and all the bodies were recovered by midnight, the official

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two North Carolina Supreme Court justices have decided they won’t step away from hearing a case that challenges two constitutional amendments, one of which mandates photo voter ID. Associate Justices Phil Berger Jr. and Tamara Barringer wrote Friday that they believe they can be fair

By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press The Treasury Department says states and localities in November paid out the largest amount of rental assistance to cash-strapped tenants since the program began. The $2.9 billion paid out is the latest sign that the program’s early hiccups have been mostly been resolved and it is now turning its focus

By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider is adding to her list of bragging rights. She’s already the highest-earning female contestant in the quiz show’s history and the woman with the longest winning streak. Now she’s among only four contestants to reach $1 million in regular-season play. She

By JULIE WATSON Associated Press CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) — A Marine Corps battalion commander has testified that in retrospect he would have halted the exercise that killed nine of his Marines whose amphibious assault vehicle sank off the Southern California coast in 2020. But at the time Lt. Col. Michael J. Regner said his

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in Mexico’s Gulf coast state of Veracruz say a heap of nine bodies has been found piled on a roadside. The state public safety department calls the killings “a reaction to the results of work being done to fight crime.” Veracruz Gov. Cuitláhuac Garcia said Friday that a total of

By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters, has decided to seek reelection to a third term. Two Republicans with knowledge of Johnson’s plan but who were not authorized to speak publicly about it confirmed to The Associated

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Colo. (AP) — President Joe Biden has visited Colorado to comfort residents grappling with rebuilding homes and businesses destroyed last week by a rare winter fire. The blaze burned through a pair of heavily populated suburbs between Denver and Boulder. The president met local officials who

By AMY TAXIN and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The difficulty finding coronavirus test kits in many parts of California and delays in getting results are causing increasing frustration and helping drive the surge of infections. In just two weeks, the number of people in California hospitalized with COVID more than doubled.