AP News in Brief at 6:04 a.m. EST

North Korea appeared to fire a ballistic missile early Sunday in what would be its first such test of the year and an implicit challenge to President Donald Trump, who stood with the Japanese leader as Shinzo Abe called the move "intolerable." There was no immediate confirmation from the North, which had recently warned it was ready to test its first intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea fires unidentified missile as Japan, US leaders meet

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US Commander: Russia’s Increasing Involvement in Afghanistan Intended …

Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told Congress that Russia's interference in Afghanistan began in 2016 and is progressing. "I think their goal is, undermine the United States and NATO in Afghanistan," Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

Mattis criticizes NKorea ahead of talks with Japan, SKorea

A mock North Korea's Scud-B missile, center left, and South Korean missiles are displayed at Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. In his first public remarks abroad as U.S. defense secretary, Jim Mattis is criticizing North Korea for provocative acts that require new consultations with Japan and South Korea.

Mattis criticizes N.Korea ahead of talks with Japan, S.Korea

In his first public remarks abroad as U.S. defense secretary, Jim Mattis on Thursday criticized North Korea for provocative acts and said he would consult with South Korean and Japanese officials about whether the current strategy for getting the North to curtail or eliminate its nuclear and missile programs is adequate. Mattis spoke to reporters aboard his military plane en route to Osan air base from Washington.

Trump’s Refugee Ban Sparks Protests Before White House, At Over 30 US Airports

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Jan 30 -- Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the White House on Sunday while demonstrations continued across more than 30 American airports after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the US. According to China's Xinhua news agency hundreds of protesters gathered Sunday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to demonstrate against the ban.

Books on Trump prove tough sell in Japan – so far

Dozens of books bearing U.S. President Donald Trump's face on its cover have been piling up at bookstores across the nation since his stunning victory in November. But sales so far have been lackluster compared to how former President Barack Obama-related books did when he assumed the presidency in 2009, according to bookstores and publishers.

Little is known on status of US student held in North Korea

There's been little public word about what has happened to an American college student detained in North Korea, as a new administration takes over one year later amid deep U.S. concerns about the hostile country's nuclear and missile development. North Korea announced last Jan. 22 it had detained Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, earlier that month for alleged anti-state crime.

US, South Korea, Japan stage missile-defense drills amid N. Korea threat

The United States, South Korea and Japan kicked off naval missile-defense drills Friday, joining forces to counter the growing threat from North Korea. The three-day exercise began amid fears that the North may test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile or stage another provocation in connection with Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on Friday.

China notes progress in ties under US President Obama

Sidestepping recent disputes over Taiwan and regional security, China said Thursday that "important progress" has been made in its relationship with the U.S. under President Barack Obama and the two countries should move forward as partners rather than competitors. Asked to sum up relations under Obama, who leaves office Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying recalled the numerous meetings between the U.S. president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, including last year in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Taliban video purportedly shows US, Australian hostages

The Afghan Taliban released a new video Wednesday purportedly showing two teachers from the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul begging Donald Trump to make a deal for their release. What appears to be the first "proof of life" of kidnapped US citizen Kevin King, 60, and of Australian citizen Timothy Weeks, 48, was posted online by the Taliban and distributed to media outlets.