AP Was There: The surreal first day of the pandemic
On the day the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, Koloud โKayโ Tarapolsi reflected the views of many people when she told an Associated Press reporter: โIf we avoid each other and listen to the scientists, maybe in a few weeks it will be better."
The Latest: Alaska opens vaccines to all 16 or older
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker shows Alaska leading states in the percentage of its population to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Larry Hogan said Tuesday, citing improving COVID-19 health metrics and increasing vaccinations. It was unclear what authority state officials might be able to exert on federal facilities. โ County health officials in Wyoming have detected the coronavirus variant that originated in South Africa. Another 16 million doses are expected to be shipped by the end of the month.
Popular UK author Victoria Hislop granted Greek citizenship
In this photo provided by the Greek Prime Minister's Office, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, meets the popular British author Victoria Hislop at Maximos Mansion in Athens, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. Hislop has been granted honorary Greek citizenship and met with the prime minister of Greece. In her first book, The Island, published in 2005, the action takes place near the Greek island of Crete. Her most recent, Those Who Are Loved, is set in Athens and other Greek islands. (Dimitris Papamitsos/Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP)
Popular UK author Victoria Hislop granted Greek citizenship
In this photo provided by the Greek Prime Minister's Office, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, meets the popular British author Victoria Hislop at Maximos Mansion in Athens, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. Hislop has been granted honorary Greek citizenship and met with the prime minister of Greece. In her first book, The Island, published in 2005, the action takes place near the Greek island of Crete. (Dimitris Papamitsos/Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP)ATHENS โ British author Victoria Hislop was granted honorary Greek citizenship Thursday and met with the prime minister of Greece. Honorary Greek citizenship may be granted in recognition of an individual's special contribution to the country.
Tom Hanks and wife get Greek citizenship for wildfire aid
ATHENS A point of pride for Greece was touched by controversy Monday, as the countrys prime minister was criticized by an opposition party for using a military helicopter during a trip to celebrate with Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, on being granted Greek citizenship. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos shared a photograph of showing him and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki at a meeting with Hanks and Wilson, who were holding up their new Greek passports. Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks are now proud Greek citizens, Mitsotakis wrote in the post. Greece offered citizenship to Hanks, Wilson, and their two children, in recognition of the familys help in raising funds for the victims of a deadly wildfire near Athens in 2018. They then used a military helicopter for a trip to the ancient theater of Epidaurus on Sunday to watch a performance of an ancient tragedy.
Mel Gibson has recovered after coronavirus hospitalization
LOS ANGELES Mel Gibson spent a week in a Los Angeles hospital in April after testing positive for COVID-19, his representative said Friday. The 64-year-old actor and director has completely recovered and is doing great according to the rep. Gibson is the latest in a long string of high profile figures to go public with coronavirus diagnoses and recoveries including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, George Stephanopoulos and the singer Pink. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. The U.S. has more than 4 million known cases of the coronavirus, with more than 140,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Hanks on COVID, 'Greyhound' and adopting a wartime mentality
A Tom Hanks-led, special effects-laden WWII movie is a weight class above most straight-to-streaming options in this strange summer movie season. I said, I love you so much but thats not the point of what were trying to do, Hanks says. With Seven Spielberg, Hanks is currently developing for Apple a third miniseries, following The Band of Brothers and The Pacific." In Cozier, who like Hanks later tested positive for the virus, Hanks saw the kind of character hes often drawn to playing. I thought," said Hanks, that guys kind of badass.___Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Kumail Nanjiani is finding his way through 'The Weirds'
(Skip Bolen/Netflix via AP)NEW YORK Kumail Nanjiani has a few names for quarantine life. He's now finding his way in a Hollywood where South Asian actors, when they're cast at all, have usually been typecast. "But I dont feel Pakistani because I dont live in Pakistan. I dont feel American because a lot of Americans dont think of me as American. During quarantine, Nanjiani went back and watched three movies he hadnt seen since he was 10: Krull, Beastmaster and The Thief of Baghdad.Suddenly there would be an image and youre like, Oh, my God.
More celebs join Michelle Obama's voter outreach drive
NEW YORK, NY Election Day is over, but Michelle Obama is still trying to get out the vote. Obama is already a co-chair, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Faith Hill, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, and basketball star Chris Paul. When We Vote bills itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to increasing voter participation. The announcement Thursday marks a year until the date of the 2020 elections, which includes the presidential race. Hanks said "registering new voters is an act of hope and taking part in the American idea."