Associated Press
Latest stories
Lagerfeld to Design Macau Hotel

Karl Lagerfeld and a Macau casino operator announced plans Friday for the Chanel designer to create his first hotel.

The 270-room Karl Lagerfeld Hotel will open in 2017 in a 20-story tower in the gambling enclave in southern China, according to Lagerfeld and the Sociedade de Jogos de Macau.

W140 Full Story
Entrepreneurship Grows in Egypt's Flailing Economy

In Egypt's newest reality television show, contestants sold fruit juice from push carts in Cairo's busiest market and later organized a desert safari for tourists, hustling to make sales in the capital's crowded streets.

The program, called "The Project" in Arabic, highlights entrepreneurship and small business acumen — something experts say is more crucial than ever as Egypt tries to claw its way out of tough economic times.

W140 Full Story
Oil Rises on Hopes of More U.S. Jobs, Ukraine Crisis

Oil prices rose Friday as the Ukraine crisis took a new twist and expectations rose for a solid increase in U.S. employment.

Benchmark U.S. crude for April delivery was up 31 cents to $101.87 per barrel at 0720 GMT in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Thursday, the contract rose 11 cents to close at $101.56. Brent crude, used to set prices for international varieties of crude, was up 21 cents to $108.31 per barrel on the ICE exchange in London.

W140 Full Story
Man Said to Create Bitcoin Denies It

Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto said Thursday that he is not the creator of bitcoin, adding further mystery to the story of how the world's most popular digital currency came to be.

The denial came after Newsweek published a 4,500-word cover story claiming Nakamoto is the person who wrote the computer code underpinnings of bitcoin.

W140 Full Story
Wilshere out for 6 Weeks with Foot Injury

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out for about six weeks after cracking a bone in his left foot while playing for England.

Wilshere was injured following a heavy tackle by Denmark defender Daniel Agger in the first half of England's 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

W140 Full Story
Akon Looks to Bring Electricity to Homes in Africa

Grammy-nominated singer Akon has a goal of bringing solar-powered electricity to 1 million homes in Africa by the end of the year, and the singer is using millions of his own dollars for the cause.

Akon started an initiative called "Akon Lighting Africa" this month. The singer, who was born in the U.S. of Senegalese parents and was reared in both countries, said he was "pained" after seeing people in the continent without electricity.

W140 Full Story
Brazil Warms up for World Cup in Style; Spain, France Win

Brazil showed its national team is in better shape than the country's stadiums with a 5-0 thrashing of South Africa on Wednesday, and defending champion Spain overcame Italy 1-0 in its final big test before the tournament kicks off, as teams prepared for the World Cup in a series of friendly matches.

With less than 100 days before the opening game, four World Cup stadiums are still under construction in Brazil and much work outside the venues remains to be done.

W140 Full Story
Blazers Rout Hawks 102-78; Korver's Streak Ends

Nicolas Batum of France had 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds Wednesday as the Portland Trail Blazers downed Atlanta 102-78, a loss that marked the end of Hawks guard Kyle Korver's NBA-record streak of 127 games with a 3-pointer.

Korver had surpassed Dana Barros' record of 89 straight, set from 1994-96, earlier this season. He was 0 for 5 from 3-point range against the Blazers.

W140 Full Story
Kristin Chenoweth Says She Suffers from Asthma

Kristin Chenoweth is ready to tell the world she suffers from asthma. The Tony Award-winning actress with the powerful voice says she's suffered with the respiratory disorder for more than a decade.

"I haven't really discussed the fact that I do suffer from asthma," Chenoweth told The Associated Press last week. "I kept getting sick and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get my breath... that's kind of my asthma journey, if you will."

W140 Full Story
Beyonce's Father Granted Cut in Child Support

A judge approved a substantial cut in the amount of child support that Beyonce Knowles' father must pay because his income dropped after his superstar daughter fired him as her manager.

A ruling obtained by The Associated Press shows that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge cut the amount Mathew Knowles must pay to actress Alexsandra Wright from $12,000 a month to roughly $2,500 a month. The payments are for a son Knowles fathered with Wright while he was still married to Beyonce's mother.

W140 Full Story