Associated Press stories, Page 529

GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Friday that covid-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed at least 7 million people worldwide. WHO first declared covid-19 to be an emergency more than...

When the Vegas Golden Knights went on the road to face the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the NHL playoffs, they got a chilly welcome — and that was inside. “They had no hot water at the Fairmont Hotel last week in Winnipeg, which I really didn’t like...

WASHINGTON — America’s employers added a healthy 253,000 jobs in April, evidence of a labor market that still shows surprising strength despite rising interest rates, chronically high inflation and a banking crisis that could weaken the economy. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.4%, matching a 54-year low, the Labor Department...

FRANKFURT, Germany — It’s been nearly seven months since Adidas split with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and boxes of his popular Yeezy shoes are still piled up in warehouses. The fate of $1.3 billion worth of unsold Yeezy stock is weighing on the German sportswear company as...

DETROIT — U.S. safety regulators are investigating possible electrical problems in older Dodge Journeys after a woman was trapped and died when her SUV caught fire in December. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s investigating whether inoperative door locks and windows can prevent people from getting out of...

CAIRO — Diplomats from Arab nations are planning an emergency meeting in Cairo over the weekend about the fighting in Sudan and the prospect of Syria’s return to the Arab League more than a decade after its membership was suspended, an official said Friday. Sunday’s meeting, confirmed by Gamal Rushdy,...

TOKYO — A strong, shallow earthquake hit central Japan on Friday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring 13 others, but no tsunami warning was issued. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck Ishikawa prefecture on the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The...

HOUSTON — Sandy Leon has worn many jersey numbers during a long career in Major League Baseball. To understand the gravity of the No. 12 that adorns the catcher’s uniform this season with the Texas Rangers, he has to revisit the worst day of his life. That was Aug. 18,...

BELGRADE, Serbia — At least eight people were killed and 10 wounded late Thursday in a drive-by shooting in a town close to Belgrade, the second such mass killing in Serbia in two days, state television reported. The attacker used an automatic weapon to shoot randomly at people near the...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A little time away from golf paid off for birthday boy Rory McIlroy. The world’s third-ranked player shot a 3-under-par 68 at the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday in his first tournament since missing the cut at the Masters, leaving him three shots behind first-round leader Tommy...

Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon on Thursday after a report of suspicious bets involving his team, with the school saying he violated “the standards, duties and responsibilities expected of university employees.” No details were disclosed on why Bohannon was let go after five years on the job, but the...

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Mike Budenholzer just over a week after their stunning first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat spoiled a season in which they owned the NBA’s best record. Budenholzer’s ouster comes two years after he directed the Bucks to their first NBA title in...

TALLAHASSEE — Former Florida Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum, who came within a whisker of defeating Republican Ron DeSantis in 2018, was acquitted Thursday of lying to the FBI in a corruption case that also involved illegal use of campaign contributions. But the federal jury hung on charges that...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After an unusually long contract saga between him and the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson was ready to move forward. That much seemed clear after the star quarterback fielded questions for the first time since agreeing to a five-year, $260 million deal. “I absolutely wanted to get...

When it comes to social media, families are seeking help. With ever-changing algorithms pushing content at children, parents are seeing their kids’ mental health suffer, even as platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide connections with friends. Some are questioning whether kids should be on social media at all, and if...

NEW YORK — U.S. deaths fell last year, and covid-19 dropped to the nation’s No. 4 cause, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. Covid-19 deaths trailed those caused by heart disease, cancer and injuries such as drug overdoses, motor vehicle fatalities and shootings. In 2020 and 2021,...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tyre Nichols died of blunt force injuries to the head after he was beaten by Memphis police during a January arrest, an autopsy report released Thursday showed. The autopsy said the manner of death was homicide. It described multiple contusions, brain injuries, cuts and bruises to the...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — From the death penalty to gender identity to abortion, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has cemented himself as a conservative standard bearer as he prepares to launch a presidential campaign sometime after the legislative session ends this week. With the help of GOP supermajorities in the statehouse, the...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indefinitely, and Lord Miles, who is trained by Joseph, was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Thursday, days after the sudden death of two of his horses at the track. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly...

The romantic comedy may be on the endangered genres list in Hollywood, but thankfully our friends in England have continued to concoct and export enjoyable confections at a steady clip. Earlier this year, we were treated to the delightful “Rye Lane,” a vibrant and fresh take on the meet cute...