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EU top diplomats in Libya to support interim authorities

CAIRO (AP) — The foreign ministers of France, Italy and Germany met with Libyan officials Thursday to show support for the country's newly elected transitional authorities, who are expected to lead the war-stricken country through general elections by the end…

An NCAA hockey tourney first: All 5 Minnesota teams are in

The NCAA men's hockey tournament bracket this year has a first: All five Division I programs from Minnesota made the 16-team field. The University of Minnesota is the No. 3 overall seed. The Gophers are joined by Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and Bemidji State. The late Minnesota coach Herb Brooks is best known for the U.S. Olympic victory known as the “Miracle On Ice.” But he spoke often of his desire to grow the college game in his home state. Regional play begins Friday.

High court: More police excessive force suits can go forward

The Supreme Court is siding with a New Mexico woman who was shot by police as she drove away from them. The justices have ruled 5-to-3 for Roxanne Torres. The case will allow more excessive force lawsuits against police to go forward. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the question for the justices was “whether a seizure occurs when an officer shoots someone who temporarily eludes capture after the shooting." The majority said the answer was yes. The decision does not end the case but just allows it to continue. Lower courts will still have to weigh in on the “reasonableness of the seizure," among other things.

Wyoming election changes pushed by Donald Trump Jr. fail

Wyoming lawmakers have rejected a measure requiring candidates to win a majority of votes in primaries to avoid runoff elections. The change had been endorsed by Donald Trump Jr. in his campaign to undermine Republican U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney. The state Senate defeated the proposal with a 15-14 vote after lawmakers raised concerns over the cost of adding another election and the burden that doing so would put on voters and officials. Trump Jr. called for Cheney’s defeat after she voted to impeach President Donald Trump over the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. A primary runoff could have consolidated Republican opposition to her re-election.

EXPLAINER: California's net neutrality law springs to life

More than three years ago, Trump-era regulators killed federal net neutrality regulations designed to prevent AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and other major internet providers from exploiting their dominance to favor certain services or apps over others. In response, seven states and Puerto Rico enacted their own net neutrality policies. The most expansive effort of this sort was in California, which will start enforcing its law on Thursday — with potentially significant consequences for the rest of the U.S. The federal regulator that handles net neutrality, the FCC, is not yet fully staffed, and new proceedings can take months if not years.  

Poland orders stricter pandemic measures for Easter period

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's government ordered stricter pandemic measures for the two-week period surrounding Easter, describing the new rules Thursday as an attempt to limit human contacts amid a deadly surge in the coronavirus pandemic. Details of the new…

NCAA tourney proof of narrowing talent gap in college hoops

The matchup of Oregon State and Loyola Chicago in the Sweet 16 is a showdown of the overlooked and underappreciated. The matchup is also evidence of a narrowing talent gap in college basketball. Five-star prospects aren’t always a whole lot better than the three-star player that gets passed over by the bluebloods. It is why the Beavers and Ramblers — and schools like them — are increasingly making deep tournament runs. And why schools such as Duke and Kentucky aren't finding things quite so easy these days.

Guns are on Supreme Court's agenda days after mass shootings

A possible expansion of gun rights is on the Supreme Court’s agenda, days after mass shootings in Colorado and Georgia. The justices are meeting in private Friday to discuss adding cases to their fall docket. Among the prospects is an appeal from New York gun rights advocates asking the court to declare a constitutional right to carry a handgun outside the home for self-protection. It’s the first major gun case to come before the court since Amy Coney Barrett became a justice in October and expanded the conservative majority to 6-3. The case was scheduled before deadly shootings at massage businesses in the Atlanta area last week and a Colorado supermarket this week.

New York City launches push to vaccinate theater workers

New York City is taking steps toward the reopening of the city’s theaters, creating vaccination and testing sites for stage workers in a bid to restore a key part of New York’s draw. “It’s time to raise the curtain and bring Broadway back,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a virtual press conference Thursday. The mayor says the city will set up dedicated vaccination sites specifically for the theater community and the theater industry. A statement from The Broadway League said “vaccination and testing sites for theatre workers are a great step towards recovery.” De Blasio says the city needs state guidance on issues like whether audiences need to bring proof of vaccination.

Iceland introduces restrictions after UK variant is detected

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Gym classes, happy hours and the near-normal life enjoyed so far by the people of Iceland ended abruptly on Thursday, when the government ordered new restrictions after detecting six coronavirus cases believed to be the variant…

AP source: Nuggets acquire center JaVale McGee from Cavs

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Denver Nuggets have acquired JaVale McGee from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Hartenstein and two second-round picks — in 2023 and 2027. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the trade had not been announced. It's the second time McGee has been acquired by Denver in a trade-deadline deal. He will back up All-Star center Nikola Jokic in Denver. He is also a three-time NBA champion with Golden State and Los Angeles and will bring plenty of playoff experience to his new team.

Myanmar junta uses force on streets; US, UK target finances

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — As Myanmar's junta used violence again Thursday to try to suppress protests against the military's takeover, the United States and Britain announced tough sanctions against two holding companies that provide financial sustenance for the army regime.…

AP source: Vucevic being traded by Magic to Bulls

All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic is being traded from the Orlando Magic to the Chicago Bulls, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu are going to the Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr. and two future first-round selections. That's according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending NBA approval. The deal would appear to be the start of a rebuild for the Magic, with Vucevic unquestionably the team’s best player for the past several seasons. The two-time All-Star is averaging a career-best 24.5 points this season and 11.8 rebounds.

Jihadi rebels hit town in north Mozambique near gas project

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Jihadi rebels are fighting to capture Palma, a strategic town in northern Mozambique where fighting continued Thursday after launching a three-pronged assault on the center a day earlier. The town in Cabo Delgado province was attacked “in…

Denmark prolongs suspension of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish officials decided Thursday to prolong their suspension of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by three weeks while they continue evaluating a potential link with blood clots even though European Union regulators who looked into the issue…

African expert warns of 'vaccine war' over access to jabs

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned against a “vaccine war” among nations amid renewed fears vaccine shipments to the continent face delays. John Nkengasong said in a briefing Thursday that…

AP source: Pistons agree to trade Delon Wright to Kings

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade guard Delon Wright to the Sacramento Kings for guard Cory Joseph and two second-round draft picks. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 6-foot-5 Wright has averaged 10.4 points a game this season for the rebuilding Pistons. They acquired the 28-year-old guard in an offseason deal. He has also played for Dallas, Memphis and Toronto. The 29-year-old Joseph is averaging 6.6 points this season. The deal was first reported by ESPN and comes hours before the NBA's trade deadline.

EU leaders faced with surge of infections, vaccine issues

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders were looking at ways of ramping up COVID-19 vaccinations across the 27-nation region Thursday amid a shortage of doses, spikes in new cases, a feud with the United Kingdom and internal quarrels. The coronavirus…

EXPLAINER: What we know about a ship blocking the Suez Canal

A giant backhoe and a squadron of tugboats look minuscule against the cargo ship’s bulk, demonstrating the enormity of the challenge at hand: freeing the wedged, skyscraper-sized container ship that has blocked the entire width of the Suez Canal and created a major traffic jam on one of the world’s most crucial trade routes. It's not entirely clear how the ship became stuck. But it has had major effects on world trade. Dredgers and tugboats haven’t been able to free the ship so far. An expert salvage team flew from the Netherlands to the canal on Thursday to join the efforts. They may eventually have to remove the ship’s containers before trying to move it again. 

Former Google CEO gives $150M for research in biology, AI

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, have given $150 million to a research institute to establish a “new era of biology” aimed at battling diseases with a mix of data and life science studies. The Massachusetts-based Broad…

AP Week in Pictures: Middle East

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in the Middle East, Afghanistan & Pakistan Region between March 18-24, 2021. This week’s selection includes scenes from across the region, where Israel…

Slovak coalition party completes withdrawal from government

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A party in Slovakia’s ruling coalition completed its withdrawal from the government on Thursday amid a political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russia’s coronavirus vaccine. Two ministers for the Freedom and Solidarity party,…

Poet Amanda Gorman revisits inaugural triumph with Oprah

Amanda Gorman will revisit her inauguration poetry reading in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The 23-year-old Gorman was the youngest inaugural poet ever when she recited “The Hill We Climb” during January's inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Winfrey says that Gorman met a moment in history with grace and dignity, and she wanted to hear what's happened to Gorman since. In the wide-ranging interview, the young writer discusses how she approached the poem’s creation, the literary figures who inspire her and her hopes for the future. Gorman's interview with Winfrey will be out Friday on the Apple TV+ series “The Oprah Conversation.”

UK court rejects Depp bid to appeal 'wife beater' ruling

LONDON (AP) — A British court on Thursday refused Johnny Depp permission to appeal a judge’s ruling that he assaulted ex-wife Amber Heard, saying his attempt to overturn the decision had “no real prospect of success.” Two Court of Appeal…