NewsAssociated PressUN: Pandemic reduced migrants by 2 million by mid-2020
A new U.N. report estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of international migrants by 2 million by the middle of 2020 because of border closings and a halt to travel worldwide — an estimated 27% decrease in expected growth. Clare Menozzi, principal author of the report by the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division, told a news conference Friday that for the second half of 2020 “we have a sense that it will be probably comparable, if not more so.” Over the last two decades, growth in the number of international migrants has been robust.
SportsAssociated PressLeBron, Davis lead Lakers' 112-95 dismantling of Pelicans
LeBron James had 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Anthony Davis added 17 points against his former team in the Los Angeles Lakers' fifth consecutive victory, 112-95 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit four 3-pointers while scoring 16 points, and Montrezl Harrell also had 16 for the defending NBA champions. Los Angeles fell behind by 15 points early, but rallied ferociously in its first game back at Staples Center after a perfect three-game trip.
SportsAssociated PressShort-handed Clippers manhandle Kings 138-100
Kawhi Leonard had 27 points and six assists in three quarters, Paul George scored 26 and the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers manhandled the Sacramento Kings 138-100 on Friday night. The Clippers have won 15 consecutive road games against the Kings. Los Angeles hasn’t lost in Sacramento since March 19, 2013.
NewsAFP NewsHong Kong government slams US for 'insane' sanctions
Hong Kong on Saturday hit back at the United States over its latest sanctions on six pro-China officials, slamming the move as "insane, shameless and despicable".
NewsAFP News'Friend' China to donate one million vaccine doses to Cambodia: PM
China will donate one million doses of its Sinovac coronavirus vaccine to Cambodia, the kingdom's strongman premier Hun Sen has said, thanking "friend" Beijing for its generosity.
NewsAFP NewsFive Hong Kong democracy protesters seek asylum in the US
Five Hong Kong democracy protesters who reportedly fled to Taiwan have arrived in the United States intending to seek asylum, an activist group said on Saturday.
SportsAssociated PressDrummond has 33 points, 23 boards as Cavs top Knicks 106-103
Andre Drummond tied his career high with 33 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Cedi Osman scored 25 points in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 106-103 win over the New York Knicks on Friday night. Drummond posted the Cavaliers’ first 30-20 game since Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 20 rebounds against Seattle on Jan. 20, 2004.
NewsAFP NewsHunt for buried survivors after Indonesia quake
Rescuers scrambled to find buried survivors Saturday after a powerful earthquake on Indonesia's Sulawesi island killed dozens, injured hundreds and left more feared trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
SportsAssociated PressCeltics run past Magic 124-97 after week-long hiatus
Jaylen Brown had 21 points and eight assists, Semi Ojeleye added 18 points and the Boston Celtics rolled to an 124-97 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night in their return to action following a virus-related week-long hiatus. Jeff Teague finished with 17 points and rookie Payton Pritchard had 16 points to help Boston post its fifth straight victory.
SportsAssociated PressPapal jersey: Francis blesses Hawks jersey on MLK birthday
The Atlanta Hawks sent a special gift to Pope Francis: an MLK jersey that was blessed by the pontiff on Martin Luther King Jr's 92nd birthday Friday. The Vatican delivery followed Francis' meeting in November with a delegation of NBA players to discuss social justice and economic inequality.
PoliticsAFP NewsTrump to leave town early Wednesday before Biden inauguration
By the time Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US president Wednesday, his scandal-tainted predecessor Donald Trump will already be far away, having helicoptered out of the White House a last time earlier that morning, an official said Friday.
SportsYahoo SportsKarl-Anthony Towns tests positive for COVID-19 after losing mom, 6 other family members to the virus
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Karl-Anthony Towns and his family extremely hard.
BusinessYahoo SportsReport: LeBron James leaving Coke for Pepsi, will be face of new Mountain Dew line
Goodbye, LeBron James Sprite commercials.
SportsYahoo SportsPope Francis blesses, signs his own custom Hawks 'MLK' City Edition jersey
The Hawks are debuting their newest threads this Monday on MLK Day.
SportsYahoo SportsNBA postpones 2 more Wizards games, Grizzlies-Timberwolves matchup amid league-wide COVID-19 spike
The Wizards won't host the Cavs on Sunday and Monday amid their COVID-19 outbreak.
SportsYahoo SportsJames Harden said he wasn't being 'disrespectful' in Houston, wanted to play for title with Nets
"The ultimate goal was to get somewhere where I could compete, and here I am in Brooklyn."
SportsAssociated PressHarden sees title chance, says he'll sacrifice shots for it
James Harden used his final interview in Houston to say that his team wasn't good enough. Harden sees a roster that features Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a coaching staff that includes a coach under whom he became the NBA's leading scorer, and an opportunity to win the title he still lacks. “You just add that all together, and it’s like, that’s a legit chance right there,” Harden said.
SportsYahoo SportsSteve Clifford, other coaches warned about mask usage amid NBA's latest COVID-19 issues
The NBA tightened health and safety protocols this week while several teams are dealing with coronavirus outbreaks.
SportsYahoo SportsWhat’s the cost of being Kyrie Irving?
Being a professional athlete is hard. It’s one of the most rewarding and well-paying jobs on the planet, but it’s also one of the most challenging.
SportsYahoo SportsKyrie Irving fined $50,000 by NBA for being at party, could return to team activities on Saturday
The NBA also said that Irving will have to forfeit salary for any games he misses while quarantining.
SportsYahoo SportsFantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups to make ahead of Week 5
Dalton Del Don offers up a selection of waiver wire pickups for Week 5 of the fantasy basketball season.
SportsAssociated PressNBA fines Irving $50,000 for health, safety violations
Kyrie Irving's absence from the Brooklyn Nets has become a costly one. The NBA fined the point guard $50,000 on Friday for violating its health and safety protocols, and said he could return to team activities Saturday — though he won't play in the Nets' game that night. Irving has missed the last five games while away from the Nets for personal reasons.
SportsAssociated PressMore NBA games off, as league continues struggles with virus
Another three NBA games were postponed Friday, including one in Minnesota only a couple hours before game time, as the league's struggle with increasing coronavirus numbers continued. Among the revelations Friday: Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns , whose mother and six other relatives have died from COVID-19, said he has tested positive. The Washington Wizards said that they have six players who are positive as well, and another three players out because contact tracing data suggested they could have been exposed.
SportsYahoo SportsCharles Barkley says NBA, NFL players 'deserve' to jump line for COVID-19 vaccine
"As much taxes as these players pay, they deserve some preferential treatment."
SportsYahoo SportsNBA Fact or Fiction: The fixed Sixers, Kyrie Irving retirement talk and Jerami Grant's All-Star case
Each week during the 2020-21 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into three of the league’s biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether the trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.
