AP National Business

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The new head of the government’s road safety agency says he will intensify efforts to understand the risks posed by automated vehicle technology. Steven Cliff says the aim is to help National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decide what regulations may be necessary to protect drivers, passengers

By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, is reopening talks about the future of the Tropicana Field site where baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays play their home games. Mayor Ken Welch said Wednesday that two previous proposals for the 86-acre downtown location are being scrapped, with a

By JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — A new agreement in Israel will put Ben & Jerry’s ice cream back on shelves in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank despite the ice cream maker’s protest of Israeli policies, according to Unilever, the company that owns the brand. The Vermont company, which has

BERLIN (AP) — Inflation in Germany eased slightly in June compared to the previous month, in part due to new subsidies that helped rein in the price of gasoline and public transport. Official figures released Wednesday show inflation hit 7.6% this month, down from 7.9% in May, which was the highest since the early 1970s.

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Bed Bath & Beyond’s CEO is out of the top post as the home goods retailer looks to fix declining sales and lure shoppers back to its stores.The chain said Wednesday that board member Sue Gove will serve as interim CEO, replacing Mark Tritton. Bed Bath & Beyond hired

MOSCOW (AP) — As the ruble strengthens to levels not seen in seven years, Russia’s minister of economic development warns that the country’s businesses could suffer if the trend persists. The ruble hit all-time lows in the first weeks after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in late February, dropping as much as 50%, to 150

By SAM KEMMIS of NerdWallet To avoid overpaying for travel, customers should beware of hidden fees that airlines, hotels and vacation rentals can add onto the initial booking price. Travel companies use a method called “drip pricing” to get customers to pay more. Hotel resort fees are one of the most egregious examples that usually

By ALEX NISHIMOTO Edmunds The car experts at Edmunds compare two premium electric four-door sedans, the 2022 Audi e-tron GT and the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS. Both offer flagship levels of luxury, but they differ greatly in their execution. The car experts at Edmunds compare and contrast these two electric newcomers to help you decide which

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch prime minister has condemned a violent protest by farmers outside the home of the country’s agriculture minister. A small group of farmers clashed Tuesday night with police stationed outside the minister’s home and spread manure on a nearby street. At another protest, farmers

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa says her Rappler news website is operating as usual and will let Philippine courts decide on an order to close the outlet. The case is seen as part of an assault on press freedom under President Rodrigo Duterte, who leaves office Thursday and will be

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI and PAUL WISEMAN Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A few years ago, Sri Lanka had an economy strong enough to provide jobs and financial security for its 22 million people. Now, its economy is in a state of collapse, the nation is dependent on aid and its leaders desperately are

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday after the U.S. economy contracted and China reported stronger factory activity. Shanghai and Hong Kong gained, while Tokyo and Seoul declined. Oil prices advanced. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index edged down 0.1% on Wednesday after data showed the U.S.

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries reached a deal following hard-fought talks that dragged into early Wednesday to back stricter climate rules that would eliminate carbon emissions from new cars by 2035. The 27 EU members found agreement on draft legislation aimed at slashing EU greenhouse gases by at least

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s new government is putting climate change at the top of its legislative agenda when Parliament sits next month for the first time since the May 21 election, with bills to enshrine a cut in greenhouse gas emissions and make electric cars cheaper. Minister for Climate

By MICHAEL HILL Associated Press CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s recreational marijuana market is beginning to sprout, literally, with thin-leafed plants stretching toward the sun in farms around the state. In a novel move, New York gave 203 hemp growers first shot at cultivating marijuana destined for legal sales, which could start by

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — With no one at the wheel, a self-driving taxi developed by tech giant Baidu Inc. is rolling down a Beijing street when its sensors spot the corner of a delivery cart jutting into its lane. The taxi stops a half-car-length away. “So sorry,” a recorded voice

By MARK PRATT Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — More than 200 employees at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts have ratified a contract that includes better pay and benefits. The unionized workers are joining a wave of other recent union developments at some of the nation’s most prestigious museums. Officials said Tuesday that the collective bargaining

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer With abortion now or soon to be illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in many more, Big Tech companies that collect personal details of their users are facing new calls to limit that tracking and surveillance. One fear is that law enforcement or vigilantes could use

The Associated Press Stocks slid on Wall Street Tuesday as the market remains gripped by uncertainty over pervasive inflation, rising interest rates and the potential for a recession. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq fell. The Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell in June to its lowest level in

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday: Trip.com, Wynn Resorts rise; Nike, Enerpac fall.

By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — From the moment he first faced criminal charges, in 2006, Jeffrey Epstein has been the object of public fascination, conspiracy theories and outrage — especially after his lawyers got prosecutors to agree to a lenient plea deal that spared him from serious prison time. Epstein was eventually

By TOM FOREMAN Jr. Associated Press A lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims two employees with a North Carolina company say they were fired after refusing to participate in the firm’s daily Christian devotionals. The plaintiffs, one an atheist and the other an agnostic, say the daily prayer meetings went against their

By AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Instagram is blocking posts that mention abortion from public view, in some cases requiring its users to confirm their age before letting them view posts that offer up information about the procedure. Over the last day, several Instagram accounts run by abortion rights advocacy groups have found

By JEFFREY SCHAEFFER and MASHA MACPHERSON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — France’s lower house of parliament has elected Yaël Braun-Pivet of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance as its new speaker. She is the first woman to hold the post. The National Assembly opened its first session Tuesday since legislative elections this month shook up France’s

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin says Russia is trying to build relations with the Taliban and that Russia wants to see all the ethnic groups in Afghanistan take part in running the country. Putin’s statement Tuesday came in a meeting with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan during his visit trip abroad since the beginning

By FLORENT BAJRAMI and LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The European Union’s delay in allowing visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo has spread dismay and resentment in the continent’s newest state, and one Pristina businessman has retaliated by hitting EU officials where it hurts — the stomach. Mama’s restaurant owner Shpetim

By SYLVIA HUI Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Scotland’s leader told lawmakers in Edinburgh Tuesday that she plans to hold a fresh referendum on Scotland’s independence on Oct. 19, 2023 — even though U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson maintains it wasn’t the right time for such a vote. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the question

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nissan is recalling nearly 323,000 Pathfinder SUVs in the U.S. because the hoods can unexpectedly fly open and block the driver’s view. The recall covers Pathfinders from the 2013 through 2016 model years. The automaker says in documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators that dust and dirt can accumulate on the

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Airbnb is making permanent its ban on parties at homes listed on the site for short-term rentals. The San Francisco company believes the ban has worked, saying Tuesday that reports of parties at listed properties have dropped 44% from a year ago. More than 6,600 guests were suspended last year for

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence slipped to its lowest level in 16 months as persistent inflation and rising interest rates have Americans as pessimistic as they’ve been about the future in almost a decade. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index slipped to 98.7 in

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine will start trading electricity with neighboring European countries later this week. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity said on Tuesday that the first phase of commercial exchanges is set to begin on June 30 following the synchronization of power systems in March. Ukraine and Moldova were previously part

The German industrial company Siemens will invest more than $100 million in a network of electric vehicle charging stations in North America operated by Volkswagen. Siemens is the first outside investor in the project, Electrify America said Tuesday, and the company is being granted a seat on its board.  The network in total has added

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Swedish power utility Vattenfall says it is considering building at least two new small nuclear reactors to deal with a projected rise in electricity consumption over the coming decades. Sweden initially had aimed to phase out nuclear power generation — which currently supplies about 40% of its needs — by 2010.

By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The American Folk Art Museum, unlike many other arts institutions during the pandemic, was able to avoid layoffs and other cutbacks in the past two years through a mix of unique fundraisers and increased contributions from existing donors. The museum plans Tuesday to announce its

By MARIA CHENG AP Medical Writer LONDON (AP) — The European Medicines Agency says it will begin reviewing data to decide if a smallpox vaccine made by the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic might also be authorized for monkeypox, amid a growing outbreak of the disease across the continent. In a statement on Tuesday, the EU

By JILL LAWLESS and JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, ending an impasse that had clouded a leaders’ summit opening in Madrid amid Europe’s worst security crisis in decades, triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks with leaders

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Farmers are protesting around the Netherlands as lawmakers vote on proposals to slash emissions of damaging pollutants. The plan will likely force farmers to cut their livestock herds or stop work altogether. The government says emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia, which livestock produce, must

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS and PATRICK ORSAGOS Associated Press JOHNSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Ohio families that have called rural land home for generations are lamenting the loss of their property to a massive development project. The property in central Ohio sits on a 1,000-acre site destined to become an Intel Corp. semi-conductor manufacturing center. The $20

By SARA RATHNER of NerdWallet There are several things that can prevent you from getting therapy or other mental health treatment. A social stigma against needing that kind of help is a big one, as is the inability to take time out of the workday for appointments. But for many, the biggest blocker of all

SINTRA, Portugal (AP) — The head of the European Central Bank says it will move gradually to combat soaring consumer prices with interest rate hikes in July and September but will keep its options open to “stamp out” inflation if it surges faster than expected. In a speech Tuesday opening an ECB forum on central

By SYLVIAI HUI Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s bid to rip up parts of the post-Brexit trade deal he signed with the European Union has cleared its first hurdle in Parliament. Lawmakers voted 295 to 221 late Monday to give initial approval to a bill allowing U.K. officials to rewrite

By ZEKE MILLER and GEIR MOULSON Associated Press ELMAU, Germany (AP) — Leaders of the world’s biggest developed economies said Tuesday they would explore far-reaching steps to cap Russia’s income from oil sales that are financing its invasion of Ukraine and struck a united stance to support Kyiv for “as long as it takes” as

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic has signed deals with Westinghouse Electric Co. and France’s Framatome to deliver fuel supplies for a nuclear power plant, reducing the country’s dependence on Russia. The Czech state-controlled power company CEZ says Pennsylvania-based Westinghouse and Framatome will contribute to the country’s energy security by supplying the Temelin nuclear fuel

BEIJING (AP) — China has announced an easing of its quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad, but stopped short of lifting what remains a stringent policy compared to most other countries. Anyone coming from outside the country will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for seven days, followed by three days of

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Global stocks were mostly higher Tuesday after a wobbly day on Wall Street as markets cooled off following a rare winning week. Oil prices pushed higher and U.S. futures also advanced. As they wrapped up a summit in Elmau, Germany, Group of Seven leaders were finalizing

By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia appears to have defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the U.S. and its allies are taking aim at the former Soviet Union’s second largest export industry after energy — gold. On Tuesday, the Group of Seven nations

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Toshiba shareholders approved 13 nominated directors to its board, as the Japanese technology giant struggles to restore its one-time glory and set a clear leadership direction. Chief Executive Taro Shimada said Toshiba Corp. is forging ahead with clean energy, infrastructure projects, data services, devices and storage,

By YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. After two long years, Yusuke Otomo, who owns a kimono rental shop, can barely contain his excitement. Hopes are running high at such businesses

By BARRY HATTON and JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The Biden administration is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing by China and ordering federal agencies to better coordinate amongst themselves in a bid to promote sustainable exploitation of the world’s oceans. The White House released its first ever National Security memo

By The Associated Press Shares of Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have tumbled just days ahead of a crucial shareholder vote on their proposed merger. Frontier shares fell more than 11% and Spirit lost 8% on Monday. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle says he’s optimistic that Spirit shareholders will approve Frontier’s latest stock-and-cash offer for Spirit

By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Officials say a helicopter pilot working to support firefighters battling a blaze in Interior Alaska has died in a crash. It is the first fatality related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. Alaska State Troopers identified the pilot as 56-year-old as Douglas Ritchie of Wasilla. He

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Monday: TreeHouse, Devon rise; Spirit Airlines, Royal Caribbean fall.

The Associated Press Stocks ended mixed after a day of wavering between gains and losses Monday as the market cools off following a rare winning week. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq fell. Small-company stocks rose. Declines in technology and communication stocks, and in several big retailers and travel-related companies

The Associated Press Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery rose $1.95 to $109.57 a barrel Monday. Brent crude for August delivery rose $1.97 to $115.09 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for July delivery fell 4 cents to $3.84 a gallon. July heating oil fell 13 cents to $4.23 a gallon. July natural gas rose 28

ZURICH (AP) — A Swiss court has fined Credit Suisse more than $2 million for failing to prevent money laundering linked to a Bulgarian criminal organization a decade-and-a-half ago. The court also ordered the confiscation of the equivalent of more than $12 million worth of deposits linked to the criminal group and opened with Credit

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal authorities have seized six websites that prosecutors say were illegally distributing copyrighted music to millions of users. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the seizures Monday of the websites that primarily targeted Latin music. According to an affidavit, agents began investigating the websites in April

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge. The Department of Justice said the Amadea

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — “Elvis” has won its box-office dance-off with “Top Gun: Maverick.” After the two films reported the same ticket sales Sunday, Monday’s final numbers has “Elvis,” alone, as king of the weekend. “Elvis” ultimately grossed $31.1 million from Friday to Sunday, according to Warner Bros.’ final

BERLIN (AP) — German officials say airlines could help ease the c urrent chaos seen at airports due to staff shortages by ending the privileged treatment some travelers enjoy. Passengers at German airports, like elsewhere in Europe, have endured long waits at check-in and numerous cancellations in recent weeks, prompting calls for government intervention. Germany

By The Associated Press GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — Leaders of the world’s biggest developed economies are looking for ways to cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s oil money, which is helping finance the war against Ukraine. So far, many Western customers are simply shunning Russian oil. But Asian customers are picking up the slack, and

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer U.S. health authorities are facing a critical decision: whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall that are modified to better match recent changes of the shape-shifting coronavirus. Moderna and Pfizer have tested updated shots against the super-contagious omicron variant, and advisers to the Food and Drug Administration

NEW YORK (AP) — The company planning to buy Donald Trump’s new social media business disclosed Monday that it has received subpoenas from a federal grand jury in New York. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. dropped almost 10% Monday as the company reported that the subpoenas and related investigations by the Justice Department and

By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press ROME (AP) — Leonardo Del Vecchio, who founded eyewear empire Luxottica in a trailer and turned an everyday object into a global fashion item, becoming one of Italy’s richest men in the process, died on Monday, the eyeglass company said. He was 87. “EssilorLuxottica announces with deep sorrow the passing

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Officials say a display of war-damaged Russian weapons in downtown Warsaw serves as a reminder of the horrors of the war in Ukraine but also that Russian aggression can be defeated. Polish and Ukrainian government officials opened the display in Warsaw’s Castle Square on Monday. The

By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Care for a hint of crab in your whiskey? A New Hampshire distillery’s newest concoction is Crab Trapper, a whiskey flavored with invasive green crabs. Tamworth Distilling is a maker of craft spirits that pushes boundaries with unexpected flavors like secretion from a beaver’s castor sacs.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Farmers driving tractors are blocking highways in the Netherlands in the latest protest sparked by a government pledge to rein in pollution emissions, a move that will hit the country’s agriculture sector. Authorities urged motorists to check traffic updates Monday before setting off, amid the protests that follow a gathering

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Video streaming service Netflix has transformed entertainment, but it probably wouldn’t have happened if not for the friendship between serial entrepreneur Marc Randolph and longtime Netflix boss Reed Hastings. Brainstorming together in 1997, Randolph conceived the DVD-by-mail service that launched the company. Randolph was

By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Online discussion was swirling in response to reported remarks of Beijing’s party secretary. On Monday, Beijing’s Communist Party chief reportedly said that the capital city will normalize pandemic prevention controls over the course of the next five years. Digital censors quickly deleted the hashtag “the next

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer NEW YORK (AP) — People with hearing loss have long adopted technology to navigate the world, especially since hearing aids are expensive and inaccessible to many. Over the past several years, new options have exploded. Captions from apps like Otter have proven critical for people who needed to join

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — People in Tokyo are sweating it out as the government warns of possible power shortages and urges greater efforts to conserve energy while Japan endures unseasonably hot temperatures. Weather officials announced the earliest end to the annual summer rainy season since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka is sending two ministers to Russia to negotiate for fuel — one of the necessities nearly exhausted as a result of the Indian Ocean nation’s economic collapse. The plan comes as Washington and its allies aim to cut off energy imports from Russia

By ZEKE MILLER, DARLENE SUPERVILLE and GEIR MOULSON Associated Press ELMAU, Germany (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his country’s military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” Zelenskyy