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Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Washington winger Tom Wilson have found themselves in agreement on something. Both are questioning the NHL on a lack of clarity between clean and dirty hits on the ice. One solution may be adding an off-ice official high above the play as a backup. That official could help referees decide whether a hit is worth a major penalty. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has doled out eight suspensions for a total of 20 games this season. Last year, the total was 20 suspensions totaling 51 games.

President Joe Biden has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge at the U.S. southern border. Biden, in delegating the matter to Harris, is seeking to replicate a dynamic that played out when he served as President Barack Obama’s vice president. Obama turned to Biden early in his first term to lead the White House effort to draw down U.S. troops in the intractable war in Iraq. With the move, Biden hopes to show he’s taking the situation seriously after facing stiff criticism from Republicans as the flow of migrants has increased since he took office in January. 

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium is reintroducing a strict lockdown in response to a surge of new COVID-19 infections, with the government saying Wednesday that schools would close and residents would have limited access to nonessential businesses. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander…

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes the U.S. government has more room to borrow, but says higher taxes would likely be required in the long run to finance future spending increases. Yellen appeared Wednesday before the Senate Banking Committee with the Biden administration considering up to $3 trillion in additional spending on infrastructure, green energy, and education. That “Build Back Better” plan would follow the $1.9 trillion economic relief package approved earlier this month. Yellen says the persistence of low interest rates have changed her views on safe federal debt levels. 

Pope Francis has ordered pay cuts for cardinals, priests and nuns at the Vatican in a bid to save other Holy See employees' jobs. Francis, in a letter made public by the Vatican on Wednesday, noted that the pandemic emergency “negatively impacted all sources of revenue” for the Holy See and Vatican City State. Travel bans by Italy and other pandemic restrictions severely limited access to to the Vatican Museums, a big money-make for the Holy See. Cardinals' pay will be reduced by 10%, other superiors of Vatican offices will lose 8% monthly, while priests and nuns working at the Holy See will suffer 3% cuts.  

BORDEAUX, France (AP) — It tastes like rose petals. It smells like a campfire. It glistens with a burnt-orange hue. What is it? A 5,000-euro bottle of Petrus Pomerol wine that spent a year in space. Researchers in Bordeaux are…

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday dropped plans for a five-day shutdown over Easter, which had prompted confusion and criticism. She called the idea a mistake and apologized to Germans. Merkel announced the decision after a hastily…

Georgia Democrats have introduced a slate of legislation in response to the massage business shootings that killed eight people. But it’s unlikely the bills will see movement in the Republican-controlled legislature. The proposals would require a five-day waiting period for gun purchases, establish a statewide translation system for 911 calls and enhance training for law enforcement emphasizing outreach in other languages. The bills have little chance of passing this year because they’re too late for procedural deadlines with just a week left in the current legislative session. Also, any proposals that limit gun sales are likely to face staunch GOP opposition. 

After a hard-fought election, an Arab Islamist could choose Israel’s next prime minister. Tuesday’s elections have left a razor-thin margin between a right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a diverse array of parties bent on ousting him. Each side needs the support of the United Arab List, also known by the Hebrew name Ra'am. The Islamist party has won just five seats in the 120-member Knesset but is not committed to either bloc. It could decide whether Netanyahu, who built his career on his hard-line approach to the Palestinians and Israel's Arab minority, keeps his job.

PARIS (AP) — France’s high-profile culture minister has been hospitalized for COVID-19, the latest senior official to become ill as the nation faces a third surge of coronavirus infections, this one propelled by a highly contagious variant first found in…

BEIJING (AP) — China took the U.S. to task Wednesday over racism, financial inequality and the federal government’s response to the coronavirus in an annual report that seeks to counter U.S. accusations of human rights abuses by China’s ruling Communist…

Tobias Harris hit a go-ahead jumper with 3:44 to play, scored another basket on the next possession and finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds to help the Philadelphia 76ers hold off the Golden State Warriors 108-98. Harris also converted a free throw on Draymond Green’s technical foul with 2:47 remaining. Ben Simmons added 22 points and eight rebounds for the Sixers, who pulled off their second consecutive road win after a 101-100 victory at New York on Sunday. Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia improved to 31-13 with its ninth victory in 10 games.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Toyota, Isuzu and Hino said Wednesday they are setting up a partnership in commercial vehicles to work together in electric, hydrogen, connected and autonomous driving technologies. Under the deal, Toyota Motor Corp., Japan’s top automaker,…

A massive cargo ship has turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for global shipping. Traffic on the narrow waterway dividing continental Africa from the Sinai Peninsula stopped Tuesday after the MV Ever Given got stuck. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the Ever Given to turn sideways, though authorities said winds were high in the area. None of its containers had sunk and no sailors were reportedly injured in the incident. Around 10% of the world’s trade flows through the waterway. An Egyptian official warned Wednesday it could take at least two days to clear the ship.

Police and former associates of the man accused of opening fire at a Colorado supermarket describe the suspect as sometimes prone to rage or delusions. But a motive behind the shooting that killed 10 people, including a police officer, remains unknown. Authorities say Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa purchased an assault weapon less than a week before Monday's attack in Boulder. It was not immediately known where the suspect purchased the weapon. Alissa, who is from the Denver suburb of Arvada, was booked into jail on murder charges. He is due to make a first court appearance on Thursday. 

There aren't two bigger stars in the women's NCAA Tournament this year than Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. It's almost as if the freshmen are playing a personal game of horse on the national stage. After one delivers a highlight-filled performance, the other delivers a top-this moment. In one of the most anticipated matchups, they’ll meet for the first time in their college careers in the Sweet 16 this weekend with Bueckers leading UConn against Clark and her Iowa teammates. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo says the game will be entertaining for all basketball fans and that “we need Iowa and UConn to play each other the next three years!”

Big man Drew Timme is an understated player for top-ranked Gonzaga. With teammates like Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs, it could be easy to overlook Timme. But he has already put together a great season and two standout games in the NCAA Tournament. He scored a career-high 30 points against Oklahoma. The Bulldogs face Creighton in the Sweet 16 later this week.

A year after the NCAA Tournament was canceled, the madness returned with an opening weekend full of upsets. No. 1 seed Illinois is gone. So is second-seeded Ohio State. High seeds Texas and Virginia also are out, replaced by upstarts and mid-major noisemakers. And then there's Sister Jean, the 101-year-old nun who serves as team chaplain for Chicago Loyola. So good to have her back. AP Basketball Writer John Marshall says it was a wild opening ride to be sure and the tournament is all but guaranteed to have a few more unexpected twists and turns.

On the eve of marking 50 years of independence this month, Bangladesh has been hailed as a success story for a young nation born out of strife and turbulence. While it has struggled with famine, poverty and political violence, Bangladesh has also been celebrated for its progress in uplifting the lives of its young population. Millions have risen out of poverty, as the country has become one of Asia’s fastest growing economies thanks to sectors like its garments industry, which clothes millions around the world. But critics fear its success conceals a darker turn, including concerns over its most recent election in 2018, which was marred by violence against political opponents amid allegations of manipulation and rigged voting.