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20 BEIJING (AP) — For decades, Beijing resident Zhou Yunjie kept mum about his teenage years behind the puck. That all changed after Beijing won the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, sparking a government-backed boom in enthusiasm for winter sports across the country. The Games are due to begin on Feb. 4. Now, the 60-year-old is back on the ice, proudly suiting up with his old teammates for friendly competitions and retellings of their time competing for Beijing in the late 1970s. “For many years I could not talk about ice hockey,” said Zhou, who owns a technology company in the Chinese capital. “Not even my family knew ... They were so surprised after I took to the ice and showed I could play hockey.” Zhou is now a regular at Wednesday and Saturday night games at a rink in northeast Beijing. The games have become fixtures in the lives … [Read more...] about AP PHOTOS: Olympics get Chinese hockey veterans back on ice

26 BRUSSELS (AP) — Police fired water cannons and thick clouds of tear gas Sunday in Brussels to disperse people protesting COVID-19 vaccinations and government restrictions that aim to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant. Police said the protest in the Belgian capital drew an estimated 50,000 people, some traveling from France, Germany and other countries to take part. Protesters yelled “Liberty!” as they marched and some had violent confrontations with police. Video showed black-clad protesters attacking a building used by the European Union’s diplomatic service, hurling projectiles at its entrance and smashing windows. A much smaller number of anti-vaccination demonstrators marched in Barcelona. The protests followed demonstrations in other European capitals on Saturday against vaccine passports and … [Read more...] about Water cannon, tear gas at COVID-19 protests in Brussels

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — A fire erupted at a popular nightclub in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, setting off explosions and killing at least 16 people, government officials said Sunday. The tragedy comes as the country hosts thousands of soccer players, fans and match officials from across the continent for the month-long African Football Cup of Nations tournament. “We are still at the level of investigations to find out the names and nationalities of the dead and the wounded," said government spokesman Rene Emmanuel Sadi. Authorities say the fire started at a nightclub in the Bastos neighborhood of the Cameroonian capital and soon spread to a place where cooking gas was being stored. “There were loud explosions from six gas bottles, causing panic in the neighborhood.” the government statement said, adding that eight others were injured and taken to Yaounde's Central Hospital. In a statement, Cameroonian President Paul Biya called for calm and assured players and fans of their … [Read more...] about Authorities: 16 dead in nightclub fire in Cameroon’s capital

CHICAGO (AP) — There is some good news for Illinois motorists who have been waiting all month for the Secretary of State's office to resume in-person services. Secretary of State Jesse White's office said offices — including driver services facilities — that have been closed since Jan. 3 because of the surge in positive COVID-19 cases across Illinois are opening up again on Monday. Those offices that operate on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule will reopen on Tuesday, according to a news release. White's office said people who come to the offices will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing when they arrive. Also, those residents who want to schedule appointments at one of the facilities where appointments are required can do so beginning the morning the facilities reopen. But his office said people can continue to conduct a lot of their business online, such as renewing license plate stickers, obtain duplicate driver's license or identification cars, and file … [Read more...] about In-person services resuming at Ill. driver’s license offices

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation officials have distributed masks and hand sanitizers in the community of Shiprock, New Mexico to help keep local residents safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile Saturday, tribal health officials reported 330 new cases and four more deaths on the vast reservation that covers 27,000 square miles and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. On Friday, the tribe had reported 500 new cases and two deaths. The latest numbers pushed the tribe’s totals since the pandemic began to 47,959 cases with 1,607 known deaths. “Our elders, our grandparents, always tell us that the safest place to be is at home and that remains true during this pandemic,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Saturday in a statement. “Our elders also have the highest vaccination rate among any age group on the Navajo Nation. “With over 87% of elders vaccinated for COVID-19, they are leading the way and setting a great example. Take … [Read more...] about Navajo officials distribute masks and sanitizers in Shiprock

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s public health agency plans to start handing out thousands of free coronavirus tests kits for residents to use at home. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says it has about 140,000 at-home rapid antigen tests that it will begin distributing Monday. That’s a fraction of the 2 million total tests the agency has ordered, with the rest expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Half the kits will go public health departments, where residents can each pick up one kit containing two tests, The State newspaper reported. The other half will go to first responders, school districts, correctional facilities, nursing homes and state agencies. Demand for COVID-19 tests has been overwhelming during the latest surge, with new infections reaching record highs because of the highly contagious omicron variant. Store-bought tests have all but vanished from retail shelves, and South Carolina's free public testing sites have seen long lines … [Read more...] about S. Carolina agency to distribute free home COVID-19 tests

5 MOSCOW (AP) — New coronavirus infections in Russia reached an all-time high on Sunday, the third consecutive daily record as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads through the country. The national coronavirus task force reported 63,205 new infections tallied in 24 hours — a spike of more than 25% since the record set on Friday. The task force reported 679 deaths, similar to other daily death counts in the past week. The omicron variant has been detected in 64 of the country’s 89 regions and Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova says that authorities expect it to become the dominant variant. Just about half of Russia’s 146 million people have been fully vaccinated despite the fact that Russia was among the first in the world to approve and roll out a COVID-19 vaccine. In Russia, everyone who received their primary vaccination more than six months ago has been eligible for a booster shot since July. Gogov.ru, an independent … [Read more...] about Russia sets another daily virus record amid omicron surge

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — The Warren City Council will consider incentives for a developer to demolish the former General Motors Warren Transmission plant and build 2 million square feet of new facility space that could bring hundreds of jobs, Mayor Jim Fouts said. GM sold the 117-acre property in December to Missouri-based Northpoint Development, which is developing several former industrial and commercial sites in the Detroit area. On Tuesday, the Warren City Council is scheduled to consider a brownfield local and state tax-capture plan for the project which is valued at $28.6 million over more than 20 years, the Detroit Free Press reported. According to city documents, Northpoint would use the money for expenses related to site preparation and demolition, including asbestos abatement. Fouts said the new development could be occupied by one or more companies. He said it could bring $152 million in new development and up to 600 new jobs. “They are going to tear down the old plant … [Read more...] about Former GM Warren Transmission plant site may be redeveloped

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Tournament host India is to withdraw from the women’s Asian Cup currently taking place in the country after a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad prevented the team from playing its Group A game against Taiwan on Sunday. “Following several positive cases of COVID-19, India failed to name the required minimum of 13 players," the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement. The organization added that tournament regulations, which state that teams unable to participate in matches “shall be considered to have withdrawn from the relevant Competition,” will apply. Withdrawal is set to also end India's chances of a debut appearance at the 2023 World Cup as the best five performing teams at the Asian Cup will travel to Australia and New Zealand for next year’s tournament. “The team is heartbroken, and I request all to respect their feelings and sentiments,” All India Football Federation President Praful Patel said. “I am proud of the great promise the … [Read more...] about Tournament host India out of women’s Asian Cup due to virus

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's backlog of 46,000 positive COVID-19 tests artificially lowered its numbers of confirmed cases, coinciding with a reduction in the amount of lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatments shipped to the state. Shipments of sotrovimab, one of few medications that are effective against the omicron variant, are rationed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services based on hospitalizations and new cases over the previous seven days, the Portland Press Herald reported. Last week Maine received 72 doses of sotrovimab, less than half of the 180 doses given to New Hampshire and fewer than the 96 doses give to Vermont. New Hampshire's hospitalization numbers are on par with Maine, while Vermont's hospitalization rate is lower. Before supplies became constrained last month, Northern Light Health providers were administering three times the doses as they are able to do now, said Matt Marston, vice president of pharmacy at Northern Light. “From a supply … [Read more...] about Newspaper: Maine monoclonal doses drop with testing backlog