GREEN RIVER, Utah (AP) — A plan to extract lithium — the lustrous, white metal used in electric vehicle batteries — in southeast Utah is adding to an anxiety familiar in the arid American West: how the project could affect water from the Colorado River. An Australian company and its U.S. subsidiaries are analyzing the saline waters in a geologic …

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group returned to profitability in October-December after four straight quarters in the red, the company said Thursday. Tokyo-based SoftBank reported a 950 billion yen ($6.4 billion), profit for the October-December quarter, a reversal from a 783 billion yen loss in the same period a year earlier. It remained in the red for the …

NEW YORK (AP) — Visitors to Boston this summer will get a treat: A stage show that reunites singer-actor Kristin Chenoweth with her “Wicked” songwriter Stephen Schwartz. Chenoweth will star as socialite Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel in the live adaptation of the 2012 documentary film “The Queen of Versailles.” The musical will make its world premiere at Emerson Colonial Theatre from …

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed confidence his party would win national elections Thursday, a vote that has been marred by violence and controversy, especially a nationwide mobile phone shutdown and the imprisonment of a popular contender. A day before the election, at least 30 people were killed in bombings at political offices, and dozens …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Washington Huskies (12-10, 4-7 Pac-12) at Oregon Ducks (15-7, 7-4 Pac-12) Eugene, Oregon; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Ducks -7; over/under is 153.5 BOTTOM LINE: Washington …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. New Hampshire Wildcats (13-8, 5-3 America East) at Bryant Bulldogs (14-9, 6-2 America East) Smithfield, Rhode Island; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulldogs -5; over/under is …

PARIS (AP) — World Cup runner-up France, European champion Italy, Belgium and Israel were drawn together in a tough group Thursday for the men’s UEFA Nations League that starts in September. The Nations League is the next action for UEFA member countries after this summer’s European Championship, where France, Italy and Belgium — all top-10 teams in the FIFA world …

QUITO (AP) — El secretario adjunto de la Oficina de Asuntos Antinarcóticos de Estados Unidos, Todd Robinson, quien lidera una misión de alto nivel en Quito, aseguró el jueves en un acto de donación de equipos policiales que es el momento de actuar rápidamente contra el crimen organizado. El funcionario ratificó el apoyo de su país para reforzar la capacidad …

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A “whistling sound” was heard on a previous flight of the Boeing 737 Max 9 whose door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight last month, an attorney representing passengers in a lawsuit said in new court documents. Mark Lindquist is representing 22 passengers of Alaska Airlines flight 1282, which made a harrowing emergency landing …

Pittsburgh Penguins (23-17-7, fifth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (22-23-5, seventh in the Central Division) Saint Paul, Minnesota; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins will aim to break a three-game road slide when they visit the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota has a 22-23-5 record overall and a 12-11-3 record on its home ice. The Wild have …