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TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly lower Tuesday in quiet trading after U.S. markets were closed for Presidents Day. Shares dropped in Tokyo, Sydney and Hong Kong but rose slightly in Seoul and Shanghai. U.S. futures and oil prices declined. Analysts say worries about weakening demand persist in Asia, as companies cope with rising energy and raw material costs and consumers hold back on spending. In Japan, a preliminary […]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s city of Qom is one of the country’s most important centers for Shiite Muslim clerics, packed with religious schools and revered shrines. But even here, some are quietly calling for Iran’s ruling theocracy to change its ways after months of protests shaking the country. To be clear: Many here still support the cleric-led ruling system, which marked the 44th anniversary this month of […]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Voters in a Richmond-based Virginia congressional district will settle a special election Tuesday for the open seat previously held by the late Democratic U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin, who died in November shortly after being elected to a fourth term. Democratic nominee Jennifer McClellan, a veteran state legislator who if elected would be the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, is widely seen as the […]

BERLIN (AP) — A dozen minors filed a lawsuit with Austria’s top court Tuesday seeking to force the government to ensure their constitutional rights are protected by taking tougher action against climate change. A lawyer for the group said the case submitted to the Constitutional Court is modeled on a similar lawsuit in Germany that prompted the government there to set new targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions two years […]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans’ annual Carnival season entered its ebullient crescendo Tuesday with thousands of revelers expected to pack the French Quarter and line miles of parade routes in a citywide Mardi Gras celebration underpinned this year by violent crime concerns and political turmoil. Gunfire that broke out during a parade Sunday night left a teenager dead and four others injured, including a 4-year-old girl. Police quickly arrested […]

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week: HOUSING SLOWDOWN The National Association of Realtors on Tuesday releases its existing home sales report for January. Sales of previously occupied homes in the U.S. have declined for 11 months in a row, almost in lockstep with the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes that started last March. NAR reported last month that existing U.S. home […]

BEIJING (AP) — The foreign minister of China, which has provided strong political backing for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, said Tuesday his country wants to play a role in ending the conflict. Qin Gang told participants at a security conference in Beijing that China was concerned the almost year-long war could escalate further and spin “out of control.” China would continue to urge peace talks and provide “Chinese […]

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet with the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign policy chief in Moscow, the Kremlin said Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “we don’t rule out” Putin’s meeting with Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, who’s visiting the Russian capital. Peskov hailed Russia-China ties as “multidimensional and allied in nature.” Wang’s visit to Moscow comes just as […]

PHOENIX (AP) — Brett Foto and his fiancee were vacationing in Phoenix last fall when they heard about a rally nearby for Kari Lake, then running for governor of Arizona. No matter that they don’t live or vote in Arizona. Lake was going places, an emerging star on the populist right, and they had to see her. “We’re seeing something very interesting tonight,” said Foto, a 52-year-old sales representative who […]