National governments
Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Olympic Latest: Bach declares Tokyo Olympics officially over

Aug. 07, 2021 08:30 PM EDT

Two-time Olympic silver medalist jailed for drug smuggling

Jul. 27, 2021 03:33 AM EDT
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Olympic silver medal-winning kayaker Nathan Baggaley and his younger brother have been jailed for more than 20 years each...

ADDS RESTRICTION: ONE TIME USE ONLY, EDITORIAL USE ONLY - IOC President Thomas Bach, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, second from left, during a welcome party for Bach and IOC officials at Akasaka Palace, Japanese state guest house, in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, July 18, 2021.(Courtesy of Tokyo 2020 via AP)
Japanese PM Suga says world should see safe Olympics staged

By Graham Dunbar Jul. 19, 2021 11:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2021, file photo, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organizing staff prepare a Paralympic swimming test event at the Tokyo Aquatics Center, in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics are not looking like much fun: Not for athletes. Not for fans. And not for the Japanese public, who are caught between concerns about the coronavirus at a time when few are vaccinated on one side and politicians and the International Olympic Committee who are pressing ahead on the other. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Uzbekistan attempt to slyly qualify Olympic swimmers blocked

Jul. 12, 2021 09:35 AM EDT

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks to media in front of the Olympics mascots at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Thursday, July 1, 2021. Suga was still uncertain whether fans can be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics because of growing concern about rising COVID-19 cases on Thursday only three weeks before the games.(Kyodo News via AP)
3 weeks before games, Japan still unsure about spectators

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 01, 2021 06:24 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, celebrates after winning gold in the women's 400 meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. World champion sprinter Salwa Eid Naser was banned for two years and will miss the Tokyo Olympics after sport's highest court on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 overturned a ruling that had cleared her on a technicality for doping tests she missed. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, file)
World champion sprinter Naser gets 2-year doping ban

Jun. 30, 2021 12:58 PM EDT

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference on voting rights at the Department of Justice in Washington, Friday, June 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Justice Department suing Georgia over state's new voting law

By Michael Balsamo And Christina A. Cassidy Jun. 25, 2021 02:22 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 12, 2020 file photo, Poland's main ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski wears a mask for protection against the coronavirus in parliament in Warsaw, Poland, during work on new legislation that is to ensure the health and safety of the postponed presidential election to be held this summer. Poland’s governing right-wing coalition lost its slim majority in parliament Friday June 25, 2021, after three lawmakers left it, criticizing government policies — mainly on phasing out coal. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
Polish ruling right-wing coalition loses parliament majority

By Monika Scislowska Jun. 25, 2021 12:55 PM EDT

In this photo taken on May 16, 2021, Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock, right walks with aide Gina Coladangelo, outside BBC Broadcasting House in London after his appearance on the BBC1 current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. Hancock has apologized for breaching social distancing rules after a newspaper ran pictures of him embracing a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement that “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances." He said “I have let people down and am very sorry.” The tabloid Sun newspaper reported Friday, June 25, 2021 that Hancock had an extramarital affair with a senior aide, Gina Coladangelo. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
UK health minister admits virus rules breach with embrace

By Jill Lawless Jun. 25, 2021 09:32 AM EDT

In this courtroom artist sketch Tahawwur Rana, appears during an extradition hearing in federal US court in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. A federal judge is weighing whether Rana, a former Chicago businessman, will be extracted to India in connection with his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack in which 166 people, including six Americans were killed. (Bill Robles for AP)
Judge keeps India terror attack suspect in US custody

By Stefanie Dazio Jun. 24, 2021 08:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, July 18, 2020, file photo, Iesha Sekou, left, founder and CEO of Street Corner Resources talks to a young man while visiting and observing potential areas of conflict and gun violence, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. A rise in gun violence in cities across the U.S. is testing the limits of anti-violence groups that have been calling for more government funding for decades. President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this year that community anti-violence programs have been woefully underfunded and has proposed $5 billion in new aid for them. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Gun violence tests limits of urban crime prevention groups

By Dave Collins Jun. 24, 2021 08:31 AM EDT

Pro-democracy supporters display the three-finger symbol of resistance during a demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Pro-democracy protesters have taken to the streets of Thailand's capital, marking the 89th anniversary of the overthrow of the country's absolute monarchy by renewing their demands that the government step down, the constitution be amended and the monarchy become more accountable. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Thai pro-democracy activists march against government

By Chalida Ekvittayavechnukul Jun. 24, 2021 05:38 AM EDT

Arizona GOP advances wish list on race, taxes, elections

By Jonathan J. Cooper And Bob Christie Jun. 23, 2021 05:40 PM EDT
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Senate passed a $12.8 billion budget for the coming fiscal year early Wednesday that contains massive income tax cuts after a...

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2020, file photo the Supreme Court is seen at sundown in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Supreme Court: Mortgage overseer structure unconstitutional

By Jessica Gresko Jun. 23, 2021 04:34 PM EDT

Baker files legislation proposing 2-month sales tax holiday

Jun. 23, 2021 03:57 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday proposed expanding the state's annual two-day sales tax holiday to a two-month event this year in an effort to...

FILE - This June 8, 2021 photo shows the Supreme Court in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Justices rule for student in 'cursing cheerleader' case

By Mark Sherman Jun. 23, 2021 12:07 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: U.S.

By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2021 11:53 AM EDT
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: June 22 The Kansas City Star on hubris and COVID...

FILE - In this June 7, 2021, file photo, a person holds a sign to protest at Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown, Texas, a policy that says hospital employees must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or lose their jobs. Over 150 employees at Houston Methodist system, who refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine, have been fired or resigned after a judge dismissed an employee lawsuit over the vaccine requirement, said Houston Methodist system spokesperson Gale Smith on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)
Houston hospital workers fired, resign over COVID-19 vaccine

By Jamie Stengle Jun. 22, 2021 06:51 PM EDT

Mexico's Caribbean coast hit by heavy seaweed, more expected

Jun. 22, 2021 06:28 PM EDT
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Environmentalists and tourism operators on Mexico’s Caribbean coast are complaining about mounds of foul-smelling sargassum — a seaweed-like...

Court restores Tennessee 1st time voter limit on mail voting

By Jonathan Mattise Jun. 22, 2021 05:16 PM EDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A panel of federal appellate judges on Tuesday reinstated a Tennessee law requiring first-time voters in the state to appear in person...