Ingested Articles

Thousands demonstrate in Chad against military transition

N'DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Thousands protested and two people were killed in Chad Tuesday in demonstrations against the rule of a transitional military council headed by the son of the late President Idriss Deby Itno, who died last week. Those…

Ford plans to develop and produce electric vehicle batteries

Ford wants to control the key technology for electric vehicles, so it plans to build a battery development center near Detroit by the end of next year. The company said the 200,000-square-foot facility will have equipment to design, test and even do small-scale manufacturing of battery cells and packs. The $185 million lab also will develop electronic controls and other items as Ford moves more of the process in-house. Eventually the company wants to do large-scale manufacturing of its own batteries globally, a task now performed by supply companies. The company wouldn't say the exact site of the center, nor would it say where it might build battery factories. 

Chicharito thrilled with hot start, youth soccer initiative

Javier Hernández is off to a spectacular start to his second year with the LA Galaxy with five goals in only two games. Now the Mexican superstar is sharing his good fortune by joining a charitable effort to fund soccer development in underserved U.S. communities, including two respected youth clubs in Los Angeles. The cause is dear to the heart of Hernández, even though he grew up in Mexico as the scion of two generations of soccer greats. Chicharito knows what the sport did for him in his relatively privileged position, and he wants to share his passion with less-advantaged families.

Geno Hayes, former NFL, Florida State linebacker, dies at 33

Former NFL linebacker and Florida State star Geno Hayes has died. His death was confirmed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He suffered from liver disease and had been in hospice care at his parents’ home in Valdosta, Georgia. Hayes spent four seasons with the Bucs, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. He then played one year with Chicago and two with Jacksonville. Geno Hayes was 33 years old.

Big 12 spring sees unexpected changes at Texas and Kansas

There were two Big 12 football teams with different coaches this spring when he appeared there would be no coaching turnover in the league. Former Alabama offensive coordinator has completed his first spring at Texas after replacing the fired Tom Herman. Interim head coach Emmett Jones leads Kansas through its spring game Saturday. He led spring drills after Les Miles was dismissed because of allegations from his LSU tenure. Second-year Baylor coach Dave Aranda got to go through his first spring drills after they were canceled last year because of the pandemic.

US lifts barriers to prescribing addiction treatment drug

The Biden administration is easing decades-old requirements that made it difficult for doctors to treat opioid addiction using medication. New guidelines announced Tuesday mean doctors and other health workers will no longer need extra hours of training to prescribe buprenorphine,…

New this week: 'Without Remorse' and 'The Mosquito Coast'

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES — Now that awards season is finally over, it’s time for some spring action movies and what…

Review: Legal writer John Grisham pens a basketball thriller

Prolific author John Grisham is back with his 36th novel, which trades a courtroom for a basketball court. “Sooley” tells the story of Samuel Sooleymon, a teenager from South Sudan with a massive vertical leap and an infectious smile. “Sooley” follows the familiar Grisham playbook — short chapters, plenty of foreshadowing, and a rapid-fire prose that’s easy to read and hard to put down. “The juxtaposition of his fame and celebrity in America with his family’s plight at home is the heart of the story,” writes AP reviewer Rob Merrill. “Sooley” is on sale April 27.

US farmers finally see better outlook after 2 odd years

U.S. farmers have had plenty to worry about in the last two years, from low prices and bad weather to trade fights and problems tied to the coronavirus pandemic. Now as they begin planting the nation's dominant crops of corn and soybeans, they are seeing the strongest prices in years and a chance to put much of the recent stomach-churning uncertainty behind them. The return to something more akin to normal will be a welcome change from the last two seasons that likely will be remembered as among the most unusual in U.S. agricultural history. The USDA has forecast that agricultural exports will be strong this year, and coupled with greater demand for livestock feed and ethanol, corn prices have reached an eight-year high.

Two Spanish reporters, Irish activist killed in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Two Spanish journalists and the Irish director of a wildlife foundation were killed Monday in an ambush in eastern Burkina Faso, the Spanish government and officials in the African country said Tuesday. The two journalists…

Small business demand lifts UPS Q1 profit, revenue up 27%

Small businesses in the U.S. fueled demand for delivery, helping UPS post better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter of the year. That sent the company’s stock to an all-time high Tuesday morning. UPS is one of the few companies that benefited from the pandemic as demand for delivery rose as more people stayed home and shopped online. But even with more people getting vaccinated and heading out, the company said it expects delivery demand to continue this year as more businesses open up and need to ship goods. Plus, consumers have more money in their pocket to spend from government stimulus checks. UPS said daily volume jumped more than 14% in the first three months of the year from the same period a year ago. 

Organizers: Pilot Barcelona concert could pave way for more

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Mid-sized cultural events could be held without social distancing — but with other precautions — after a pilot concert attended by 4,500 mask-wearing Spaniards who'd been screened for COVID-19 produced no significant outbreaks, event organizers argued…

Brussels bracing for illegal festival amid fears of violence

BRUSSELS (AP) — Brussels prosecutor's office warned potential partygoers they should stay away from an unauthorized gathering planned this weekend in one of the city's biggest parks as police briefly detained one of the organizers on Tuesday. After an April…

France, Germany plan billions in pandemic recovery spending

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — France and Germany together laid out plans for billions in spending from the European Union's pandemic recovery fund aimed at fighting climate change and boosting the use of digital technology across the economy. The finance ministers…

Idaho lawmaker accused of rape was warned about his behavior

An Idaho lawmaker facing rape allegations from a 19-year-old intern was previously warned against hitting on women who work at the Statehouse after his colleagues heard complaints from other staffers. The information was included in documents gathered by the Legislature’s ethics committee and obtained by The Associated Press in advance of a public ethics hearing on Wednesday. The investigation of Lewiston Republican state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger began in March when an intern reported the he raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner. The Boise Police Department has a criminal investigation underway. Von Ehlinger has denied the accusations. 

NHL reaches 7-year deal with Turner Sports, ending NBC run

The National Hockey League is coming to TNT. The league and Turner Sports  announced a seven-year agreement that begins next season. It includes three Stanley Cup Finals, up to 72 regular-season games, half of the first- and second-round playoff games on TNT and TBS as well as a conference final series. The deal means NBC’s run of covering the league ends after after this season’s playoffs. NBC has broadcast games since 2005 and is in the final season of a 10-year contract. When the Stanley Cup Finals are shown on Turner in 2023, it will mark the first time since 1994 they will be only on cable. 

Hungary's parliament overhauls higher education amid outcry

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's parliament on Tuesday voted to transfer state assets worth billions of dollars into foundations that will control many of the country's public universities and cultural institutions, a move opposition figures have decried as a theft…

Lawyers: Pathologist says Black man shot 5 times by deputies

Attorneys for the family of a Black man shot and killed by deputies in North Carolina say an independent autopsy shows that he was shot five times, including a shot in the back of the head. Attorney Wayne Kendall said Tuesday that an independent pathologist hired by Andrew Brown Jr.’s family examined his body. The doctor noted four wounds to the right arm and one to the head, Kendall said during a news conference. Brown was shot Wednesday by deputies serving drug-related search and arrest warrants in the eastern North Carolina town of Elizabeth City.

US consumer confidence returns to pre-pandemic levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer confidence rose sharply for a second straight month, hitting the highest level since the pandemic began, as the rapid rollout of vaccines and another round of U.S. financial support for Americans boosts optimism. The Conference Board…

Iran nuclear talks resume in Vienna amid new complications

BERLIN (AP) — World powers resumed high-level talks in Vienna on Tuesday focused on bringing the United States back into the nuclear deal with Iran, in their first session since comments surfaced from the Iranian foreign minister alleging that Russia…

Travis Scott casts a philanthropic eye toward HBCU students

Travis Scott, the rapper famous for his string of stylish hip-hop hits, from “SICKO MODE” to “Highest in the Room," and for the wild mosh pits at his concerts, has been flexing his philanthropic arms. In October, Scott tweeted that…

Wimbledon Middle Sunday play in '22; fans, money TBD in '21

The All England Club says there will be play on Wimbledon's middle Sunday starting in 2022. That is a significant break in tradition for the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. There only has been play on the middle Sunday in the past when rain created a backlog of matches. Wimbledon returns in 2021 after it was called off last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The club says it received 180 million pounds in cancellation insurance. That is about $250 million. Some aspects of the 2021 tournament are still to be determined. That includes the number of spectators and prize money.

Auto group backs guidelines for partially automated vehicles

The trade association representing most major automakers is offering guidelines for manufacturers to advertise partially automated driving systems and make sure drivers are paying attention while using them. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation says its members support the voluntary principles. They come as two federal agencies ramp up scrutiny of Tesla’s Autopilot diver-assist system after two men were killed in a fiery crash earlier this month near Houston. The principles say that any vehicle with such a system should have driver monitoring as standard equipment. Cameras should be considered to make sure drivers have eyes on the road. The alliance represents companies that account for 99% of U.S. new vehicle sales. But Tesla is not a member.