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BANGKOK (AP) — Shares fell Friday in most Asian markets after China reported a stronger than expected rise in prices that could prompt authorities to act to cool inflation. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rebounded after falling the day before.…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is giving himself lots of latitude when he defines infrastructure for the purpose of spending money on it. It’s not just steel, but home health care workers. Not just excavating dirt, but building “dignity.”…

It’s been over a year since a choir practice in Washington state sickened 53 people and killed two, becoming one of the first known COVID-19 superspreader events in the United States. But from that tragic toll emerged one of the most pivotal transmission episodes in understanding the virus. Experts say the public health investigation that followed was key in concluding that the virus was spreading through the air. The children of one of the women who died gathered recently to honor her. They say they’re comforted to know that knowledge gained from the event has helped advance preventative measures and save lives.

Complex forces are driving an increase in the number of migrant families and unaccompanied children coming to the U.S. Many say President Joe Biden's positions on immigration, whether real or rumored, have influenced their decisions. About four in 10 border encounters last month were with families and children traveling alone. It comes as policies in the U.S. and Mexico favor them staying in the United States while they seek asylum. The March total includes nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children, the highest monthly number on record. They are exempt from federal pandemic-related powers that quickly expel migrants without a chance for asylum.

APRIL 2 - 8, 2021 This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press Photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was curated by AP photo editor Anita Baca Follow AP visual…

Japan is set to strengthen anti-virus measures in Tokyo on Friday to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious coronavirus variant just three months before the Olympics begin in the capital where most people are not yet vaccinated. Experts on a government panel gave preliminary approval to the emergency measures that would include binding orders in Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa. The measures expected to be announced later Friday by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga would start Monday and last until early May. With Japan’s vaccination drive still at an early stage, it will be almost impossible for Japan to inoculate enough people to reach so-called herd immunity before the Olympics begin on July 23. 

Nolan Arenado hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with the Cardinals, lifting St. Louis over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 as fans returned to Busch Stadium for the first time since 2019. Arenado, a five-time All-Star acquired from Colorado on Feb. 1 after eight seasons with the Rockies, followed a walk to Austin Dean with the score 1-1. Arenado turned on a first-pitch 96.6 mph offering from Drew Rasmussen and sent the ball 373 feet to left for his second homer this season.

“The Boys in the Band” and “Star Trek: Discovery” were among the winners at the 32nd GLAAD Media Awards. The honors were presented in a virtual ceremony Thursday hosted by Niecy Nash. Presenters included Sterling K. Brown and soccer's Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, who called for transgender students to be accepted in sports. The media advocacy group’s awards recognize what GLAAD calls “fair, accurate, and inclusive” depictions of LGBTQ people and issues. Other winners included "I May Destroy You'' and Sam Smith, who was honored as outstanding music artist for the album “Love Goes.” The GLAAD Media Awards ceremony is available on Hulu through June.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will raise the World Series flag for the first time since 1988 and will hand out championship rings before Friday’s home opener against Washington, the first time fans are allowed into Dodger Stadium since the Game 5 loss in the 2019 NL Division Series. The Dodgers will special jerseys for the weekend series, with “Dodgers” trimmed in gold, and caps with the interlocking “LA” trimmed in gold.

U.S. intelligence officials are painting a dark picture of the world’s future, saying the coronavirus pandemic has deepened economic inequality, strained government resources and fanned nationalist sentiments. Those assessments are included in a Global Trends report by the government’s National Intelligence Council. The reports, produced every four years, are designed to help policymakers and citizens anticipate the economic, environmental, technological and demographic forces likely to shape the world through the next 20 years. This year’s report focuses heavily on the impact of the pandemic, calling it the “most significant, singular global disruption since World War II.” 

The NHL is in the most difficult position among the four major North American professional sports leagues on vaccinations because seven of its teams are based in Canada. The U.S. is vaccinating 3 million a day and has widespread availability. The NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball have plans to relax virus protocols when a certain percentage of team personnel are fully protected by vaccines against COVID-19. The world's top hockey league does not have that luxury. The NHL instead is grappling with an outbreak in Vancouver and vaccine inequity on opposite sides of the border.

Cook County prosecutors say the man driving a car carrying a toddler who was wounded during a shooting on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive this week did not exchange gunfire with the offender who shot his grandson. Jushawn Brown on Thursday was given a $5,000 bond for illegal gun possession for the gun police recovered after the shooting that critically injured the infant. Prosecutors say the 43-year-old Brown placed a gun on his lap when the other driver brandished his gun. However, Brown did not return the shots fired at his vehicle, which crashed after the boy was shot in the temple. No other arrests have been reported. The wounded boy remained in critical condition Thursday at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Only a dozen players managed to break par in the opening round of the Masters. No one was close to Justin Rose. The 40-year-old Englishman has a commanding four-stroke lead after a blistering 7-under 65. He began his surge with an eagle at No. 8 and played the final 11 holes at 9 under. Rose shot 30 on the back side. Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama were the only other players in the 60s. Both posted 69 on a day when many top players struggled with the rock-hard greens and a breeze that howled at times.

When Helio Castroneves arrived at for testing Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he went right to Team Penske garage, said hello and quickly moved along. Eventually, he made it to his new team's headquarters, got dressed in his new pink and black driver's suit and got to work. It's not easy for the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. After spending 21 years working on Roger Penske's team, the popular Brazilian finds himself starting over at age 45. 

Avengers, reassemble! Disneyland said Thursday that its new Avengers Campus will debut on June 4, nearly a year after originally planned. The new section of the Anaheim park that brings Marvel heroes into the Magic Kingdom had been set to open last July, but was upended by the pandemic closure. The park itself is scheduled to reopen April 30 after a shutdown of more than a year. The Avengers Campus includes a Spider-Man attraction that allows riders to sling webs with their bare hands, and gives guests a chance to team up with Marvel heroes like Iron Man and Doctor Strange. 

The attorney for the officer on trial in George Floyd’s death has raised the concept of excited delirium as testimony examines whether reasonable force was used on Floyd. Derek Chauvin's attorney explored the condition this week in questioning Nicole Mackenzie, a Minneapolis police officer who trains other officers in medical care. Mackenzie described it as a combination of “agitation, psychosis, hypothermia, a wide variety of other things you might see in a person or rather bizarre behavior.” There's no universally accepted definition. But an expert in forensic medicine who believes excited delirium is real testified Thursday that Floyd met none of the 10 criteria for diagnosis.