Associated Press stories, Page 1711
U.K. bans travel from 4 more nations over virus; 39 in all
LONDON — The British government is gearing up to ban international arrivals from four more countries — Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and the Philippines — amid concerns over new virus variants but opted against including France and other European nations that are facing a resurgence of the virus. The Department for...
Myanmar cuts wireless internet service amid coup protests
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s wireless broadband internet services were shut down on Friday by order of the military, local providers said, as protesters continued to defy the threat of lethal violence to oppose the junta’s takeover. A directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Thursday instructed that “all...
March hiring accelerated to 916K, yet many jobs remain lost
America’s employers unleashed a burst of hiring in March, adding 916,000 jobs in a sign that a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession is taking hold as vaccinations accelerate, stimulus checks flow through the economy and businesses increasingly reopen. The March increase — the most since August — was nearly...
AP-NORC poll: Majority in U.S. back easier voter registration
WASHINGTON — Democrats’ proposals to overhaul voting in the U.S. won solid — although not overwhelming — support from Americans in a new survey measuring the popularity of major pieces of the sweeping legislation in Congress. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found about half of Americans...
U.S., Iran say they’ll begin indirect talks on nuclear program
The United States and Iran said Friday that they would begin negotiations through intermediaries next week to try to get both countries back into an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program, nearly three years after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal. The announcement marked the first major...
Train hits truck that slid onto track in Taiwan, killing 51
TAIPEI, Taiwan — A train barreled into an unmanned truck that had rolled onto the track Friday in Taiwan, leaving at least 51 people dead and dozens injured in the island’s deadliest rail disaster. Many passengers were crushed, while some survivors were forced to climb out of windows and walk...
Camilo Villegas has 1st-round lead at Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Camilo Villegas chipped in twice to highlight a nine-birdie round that earned him an 8-under-par 64 and the first-round lead at the Valero Texas Open on Thursday. Sung Kang, a 33-year-old South Korean, is two shots back with Cameron Tringale after each had a 66 at TPC...
NHL postpones 3 more Canucks games because of covid-19
The Vancouver Canucks have had their games postponed through April 6. The Thursday announcement by the NHL comes a day after Vancouver’s game against the Calgary Flames was postponed because two Canucks players and a member of the coaching staff were entered into the league’s covid-19 protocol. Pending test results...
Houston’s run to Final Four special for CBS’ Jim NantzVideo
Jim Nantz has called last-second shots for an NCAA championship, undefeated teams falling short in the semifinals and unlikely underdogs making the Final Four. But as Nantz prepares to call his 30th Final Four for CBS, he will do something this weekend that seemed improbable for a long time: watch...
Colorado latest to weigh ban on Native American mascots
DENVER — Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal that would ban Native American mascots in public schools and colleges amid a nationwide push for racial justice that gained new momentum last year following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis and the NFL team in Washington changing its name. The measure, which...
MLB Opening Day: Snow, stars, fans and a covid postponementVideo
Miguel Cabrera took a trot, eventually, in the snow at Comerica Park. Mookie Betts started the champion Los Angeles Dodgers with a hit at Coors Field. And the Bleacher Creatures did their thing at Yankee Stadium. All-Stars on the diamond for Opening Day, fans in the socially distanced stands eager...
Quick turnaround for Masters no concern for reigning champ Dustin JohnsonVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The record score at Augusta National wasn’t all that set Dustin Johnson apart from other Masters champions. No one else ever won the Masters and then didn’t play in another tournament the rest of the year. No other Masters champion was allowed to keep his green jacket...
Eastern Caribbean dollar goes digital, a help for unbanked
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Eastern Caribbean has created its own form of digital currency meant to help speed transactions and serve people without bank accounts. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank said its “DCash” is the first such blockchain-based currency introduced by any of the world’s currency unions, though...
MLB returns with real, live fans in ballparks across the countryVideo
CHICAGO — Wearing a Chicago Cubs jacket and hat, Marc Passoni took in the moment. His buddy, Greg Cooper, on his 59th birthday, stood nearby holding an orange sign that read “First Masked Game 4-1-21.” It was windy and cold at Wrigley Field, and neither of them cared all that...
Ohio to begin vaccinating students on college campuses
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an effort to outrun the coronavirus, Ohio will begin to ramp up vaccination numbers by meeting people where they are: college campuses, workplaces and churches. But requiring vaccinations remains off the table, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday. Beginning next week, the state will work with...
New breed ‘Law & Order’ brings back NYPD detective Stabler
LOS ANGELES — The latest member of the “Law & Order” franchise has a familiar face playing a familiar character, but producer Dick Wolf says he’s switching up the storytelling. NBC’s “Law & Order: Organized Crime” stars Christopher Meloni as New York police detective Elliot Stabler, the role he played...
Explainer: Witnesses relive trauma, guilt over Floyd’s death
The first days of testimony at the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death have been dominated by witnesses to his arrest and countless videos that forced them to relive the trauma of it all over again. One man who shouted “You can’t win!” at...
Rider injured when ejected from Tennessee mountain coaster
GATLINBURG, Tenn. — A rider was ejected from a mountain coaster in Tennessee and hospitalized with head, wrist and ankle injuries, according to state officials. A report submitted by the owner to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development says the incident occurred Monday on the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster...
Michigan’s Juwan Howard named AP Coach of the YearVideo
Michigan’s decision to hire Juwan Howard raised a few eyebrows. The former member of the Fab Five certainly had the coaching chops after spending six years as an assistant with the NBA’s Miami Heat. The question was whether he would be able to recruit. He had never done it before,...
Iowa’s Luka Garza named AP Player of the YearVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Luka Garza knew what everyone expected before returning for a final run as Iowa’s unquestioned star. Pressure? Garza felt it, enough to know his mental health required the same attention as his game. “I needed meditation to lean on, to be able to mainly just go out there...
Pressley, Warren push Biden to nix $50,000 in student debt
BOSTON — President Joe Biden should help those struggling under crushing student loan debt by immediately canceling up to $50,000 of debt for federal student loan borrowers, Democratic elected officials said Thursday. Biden can make the move by using existing authority granted to him under the Higher Education Act, said...
NFL considering changing onside kick and overtime rulesVideo
NEW YORK — The NFL is considering a rule change that would allow teams to maintain possession of the ball after a score by substituting one offensive play for an onside kickoff attempt. The proposal submitted by the Philadelphia Eagles is among 11 that will be voted on at the...
Mitch McConnell urges fellow Republicans to get covid-19 vaccines
LOUISVILLE, Ky — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged his fellow Republicans to be vaccinated against covid-19 during a visit to a western Kentucky hospital Thursday. “As a Republican man, I wasn’t reluctant to get it when I was eligible and I would encourage everybody to do that,” he said....
Colorado is latest to weigh ban on Native American mascots
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal that would ban Native American mascots in public schools and colleges amid a nationwide push for racial justice that gained new momentum last year following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the NFL team in Washington changing its name....
PBS Kids celebrates Autism Awareness Month with new friends
NEW YORK — A new child is introduced this month on the animated TV show “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” who is a little different. He’s sensitive to loud noises and he likes doing things his way, in his time. Ben is autistic and he helps teach the show’s...
