Ingested Articles

South Korea's capital scraps testing mandate on foreigners

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean capital on Friday withdrew its mandate that all foreign workers in the city be tested for the coronavirus — an order that had caused huge lines at testing centers and prompted accusations…

Scottish leader under fire after lawmakers fault testimony

LONDON (AP) — Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed suggestions that she misled lawmakers, saying opposition members of a legislative panel had made up their minds before they heard her evidence. Sturgeon told Sky News that she stands by the…

Myanmar garment workers urge global brands to denounce coup

Garment workers in Myanmar are urging major international brands to denounce the recent military coup there and put more pressure on factories to protect workers from being fired or harassed — or worse arrested and killed for participating in protests. Major brands like H&M and Mango increasingly flocked to Myanmar in search of cheap labor as the Southeast Asian country began moving toward democracy over the past decade. Now, those brands face a conundrum: whether to stay or pull out. At stake are the livelihoods of more than 600,000 garment workers who have been at the forefront of the pro-democracy demonstrations.

Tokyo Olympics ready to announce ban on fans from abroad

Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee are poised to finally make it official that most fans from abroad will be prohibited from attending the postponed Olympics. The announcement is expected to come after “five-party” talks this weekend with the IOC, local organizers, the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the International Paralympic Committee. A sticking point seems to be with international federations and national Olympic committees that have sponsors with tickets who wish to attend. They are expected to get some type of exemption. The Olympics open on July 23. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24.

Scientist behind coronavirus shot says next target is cancer

The scientist who won the race to deliver the first widely used coronavirus vaccine says people can rest assured the shots are safe. Ozlem Tureci, the co-founder and chief scientist at German company BioNTech, said she and her colleagues have all received the vaccine developed together with Pfizer. Tureci told The Associated Press that the mRNA technology behind the shot will be used to fight another global scourge — cancer — “within only a couple of years.” Tureci and her husband, BioNTech's chief executive Ugur Sahin will receive Germany’s highest award on Friday at a ceremony attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Tureci says the honor recognizes the efforts by a large team and is “a celebration of science.”

Europe pause of AstraZeneca sends ripple of doubt elsewhere

The suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine in several European countries over the past week could fuel skepticism about the shot far beyond their shores, potentially threatening the rollout of a vaccine that is key to the global strategy to stamp out the coronavirus pandemic. As things stand, it’s either AstraZeneca or nothing for some developing countries. Most developing countries that had the vaccine on hand pushed ahead with it even as major nations in Europe suspended its use after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the shot. The EU regulator says the vaccine is not linked to an overall increase in the risk of clots.

Alabama's Quinerly thriving after rocky start to career

Jahvon Quinerly used to lay awake at night wondering how things could have gone differently, though they’re going quite nicely these days. Now he is a point guard and second-leading scorer for No. 5 Alabama. He is a significant contributor in the Crimson Tide men's basketball team's rise to Southeastern Conference champions and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The past few years hadn’t gone nearly so smoothly. His name had surfaced in a federal investigation and took a couple of years to get publicly cleared. Quinerly ended up signing with Villanova and transferring to Alabama, where he had to sit out last season.

Pick Six: Cunningham, Mobley lead top NBA prospects in NCAAs

Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham headlines the list of top NBA prospects in the NCAA Tournament. The freshman is projected by many to be the No. 1 overall NBA draft pick if he enters the draft. USC big man Evan Mobley and fellow freshman Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga are projected top-3 picks. The list of top tournament prospects includes freshmen Moses Moody of Arkansas and Scottie Barnes of Florida State. There's also the freshman duo of Keon Johnson and Jalen Springer from Tennessee. Gonzaga's Corey Kispert has also improved his draft standing as a sharp-shooting senior.

710 days later, NCAA Tournament is back with 'First Four'

The NCAA Tournament returned to the big stage with a small first step, proving it can still showcase tight games and generate real excitement, even in mostly empty arenas. A 710-day hiatus caused by the pandemic officially ended with the tournament's ‘First Four’ games — contests that will launch UCLA, Drake, Texas Southern and Norfolk State into the 64-team main bracket that begins play Friday. “I feel like I’m on top of the world,” said John Walker III, who led Texas Southern with 19 points. The feeling may not last long, since all ‘First Four’ winners now face higher seeds.. 

UCLA beats Michigan St 86-80 in overtime in First Four game

UCLA forced overtime with Jaime Jaquez Jr.‘s three-point play with 3.3 seconds to go against Michigan State, then pulled away in the extra session for an 86-80 victory at Mackey Arena in their First Four game at the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins’ Cody Riley hit a foul shot with 26 seconds left and, after the Spartans’ Joshua Langford missed at the other end, Jaylen Clark added two more to send UCLA into a first-round game against No. 6 seed BYU on Saturday night. Aaron Henry led the Spartans with 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean

March 11, 2021 – March 18, 2021 This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and Caribbean. The gallery was curated by AP photojournalist Jorge Saenz in Asuncion,…

Texas Southern beats Mount St. Mary's 60-52 in NCAA opener

John Walker III scored a season-high 19 points and Jordan Gilliam had 12 to help Texas Southern erase a 10-point halftime deficit and beat Mount St. Mary's 60-52 in the first NCAA Tournament game in nearly two years. It's the second straight First Four victory for the Tigers, who also won in 2018. They will face top-seeded Michigan on Saturday. Damian Chong Qui scored 14 points and Mezie Offurum had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Mountaineers, who fell to 1-9 in tourney play.

NFL reviewing sex assault claims against Texans QB Watson

The NFL says it's investigating allegations that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sexually assaulted multiple women after three massage therapists filed lawsuits against the star player. Watson has broadly denied that he acted inappropriately and says he looks forward to clearing his name. The lawsuits were filed this week. The women are not named in the suits. They're represented by Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee. He posted a picture Thursday of a letter from the NFL on his Instagram account that said the league had launched an investigation. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that the matter was “under review of the personal conduct policy.”

Let's Talk: NFL free agents and traded players speak up

Now that the muzzles have been removed for NFL team executives and the players they either re-signed or added in free agency, Thursday was a time for explanations and reflections. Yes, there were more transactions: Las Vegas getting running back Kenyan Drake while Denver bid adieu to RB Phillip Lindsay. New England bringing back Kyle Van Noy, Buffalo grabbing Mitchell Trubisky, and Tennessee getting All-Pro long snapper Morgan Cox. There also were plenty of words from guys switching teams (Carson Wentz, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Joe Thuney, A.J. Green), players staying put (Leonard Williams, Derek Wolfe) and even a player coming out of retirement (Kyle Long).

Staley helps sister battle leukemia, seeks more Black donors

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley is fiery and animated on the sidelines. But when her sister, Tracey Underwood, was diagnosed with leukemia last year it wasn’t about a game, it was life and death. Staley dove into the fight against the disease, calling doctors and medical centers across the country. She spoke with ex-North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell, who took a year away to fight leukemia. Staley even spoke with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski about getting Underwood into Duke Cancer Institute. Staley galvanized her family in battling Underwood’s condition. Underwood received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from her brother Lawrence. Staley’s now is using her platform to raise awareness for the need for more Black donors and allay fears about becoming donors.

Drake tops Wichita State for first NCAA win in 50 years

Joseph Yesufu scored 21 points and Drake beat Wichita State 53-52 in the First Four. It was Bulldogs’ first NCAA Tournament win in a half-century. Drake’s last tournament victory had been 50 years ago to the day —- March 18, 1971, against Notre Dame. The Bulldogs came in with 25 wins, second most in the tournament. Their tense matchup with a longtime Missouri Valley Conference rival brought some early drama to the pandemic-affected tourney. Wichita State had a chance to win at the buzzer but Alterique Gilbert settled for a long 3-pointer that hit the front rim.

Myanmar factory attacks put focus on Chinese influence

BANGKOK (AP) — Confusion over what exactly happened during recent attacks on factories in Myanmar has highlighted the complex and troubled nature of the country's relations with China amid a broad public backlash against a Feb. 1 coup. Many in…

Chip shortage forces Ford to build trucks without computers

A global semiconductor shortage and a February winter storm have combined to force Ford to build F-150 pickup trucks without some computers. The company says the pickups will be held at factories for “a number of weeks,” then shipped to dealers once computers are available and quality checks are done. The move is the latest ripple from the global semiconductor shortage, which earlier this week forced Honda and Toyota to announce production cuts at some North American factories. Ford’s move is likely to tighten inventory of F-Series pickups, the top-selling vehicles in America. 

Biden meets with UN Security Council members to talk climate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told the permanent representatives of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that the United States will join the international body's Group of Friends on Climate and Society. The group was launched in 2018 with…

NCAA basketball players use biggest stage to deliver message

A social media effort to raise awareness about inequities in college sports by some prominent basketball players came with calls for rules changes and requests for meetings with the NCAA president and lawmakers. The players who got #NotNCAAProperty trending on social made no threats of protests at tournament games. The tournament opened Thursday night and will have millions of viewers all weekend. The NCAA's vice president of basketball says he is not aware of any player protest that could disrupt the games.

Man who killed 2 at supermarket pleads guilty to hate crimes

A Kentucky man already serving a life prison sentence for fatally shooting two shoppers at a grocery store has pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes. Federal prosecutors say the October 2018 shootings at a Kroger outlet in Louisville were racially motivated. Gregory A. Bush pleaded guilty but mentally ill in December to two counts of murder. Bush pleaded guilty to the new hate crimes charges Thursday in Louisville. He fatally shot 69-year-old Maurice Stallard and 67-year-old Vickie Jones at the store. Both victims were Black, and Bush is white. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on the new charges.

Weighty issue: Inequity raised in women's, men's tourneys

The teams had barely landed in Texas when complaints of inequity between the women’s and men’s tournaments roared over social media posts noting the women’s weight training facilities in San Antonio were severely lacking compared to what the men have in Indianapolis. Stanford sports performance coach for women’s basketball Ali Kershner posted a photo on Twitter making the comparison. Several top former college and current WNBA players quickly tweeted support for the women and criticism of the NCAA. Holzman said the NCAA would try to quickly improve the equipment available at the women’s tournament. 

China to open 1st trial of Canadians held on spy charges

DANDONG, China (AP) — China was expected to open the first trial Friday for one of two Canadians who have been held for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive. Canada…