AP National Business

By MICHAEL CANTU Edmunds Extra-small luxury SUVs are a great way to cruise around in luxury without paying an excessive amount. As an example, check out the Mercedes-Benz GLB. It has been one of Edmunds’ top performers in its class since it was introduced in 2020. The BMW X1 has been redesigned with new styling,

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks rose Wednesday as anxiety about the global financial system began to fade following three high-profile bank failures. London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Wall Street futures advanced. Shanghai declined. Oil prices gained. Fears global banks might be cracking under the strain of interest rate hikes to

By THOMAS ADAMSON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Paris authorities are cleaning up debris from the French capital’s streets following fresh anti-pension reform protests that appear to be winding down, as striking sanitation workers are set to return to work. The union representing Paris sanitation workers said its members will return to their jobs Wednesday,

By KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s government has announced significant cuts in fuel prices, providing welcome relief for many after a year of shortages and skyrocketing prices amid the country’s worst economic crisis. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara told reporters different categories of petrol and diesel will

By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is kicking off his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs worldwide. Biden frequently speaks of the U.S. and allies being at a critical moment when democracies need to demonstrate they can out-deliver autocracies.

By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is kicking off his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs around the globe. Biden frequently speaks of the U.S. and allies being at a critical moment when democracies need to demonstrate they can

BO’AO, China (AP) — The chairman of Russian gas producer Gazprom says it is increasing gas supplies to China and expects soon to reach the maximum planned level through a Siberian pipeline. That highlights Beijing’s importance as Russia’s top export market in the face of Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Viktor Zubkov said

PARIS (AP) — Paris authorities are cleaning up debris from the French capital’s streets following fresh anti-pension reform protests that appear to be winding down, as striking sanitation workers are set to return to work. The union representing Paris sanitation workers said its members will return to their jobs Wednesday, ending strike action that lasted

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — UBS says it’s bringing back former CEO Sergio Ermotti to lead the Swiss bank as it moves forward with a government-orchestrated plan to take over struggling rival Credit Suisse. The bank said Wednesday that Ermotti’s appointment takes effect in a week. Ermotti was the bank’s top executive

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — UBS says it’s bringing back former CEO Sergio Ermotti to lead the Swiss bank as it moves forward with a government-orchestrated plan to take over struggling rival Credit Suisse. The bank said Wednesday that Ermotti’s appointment takes effect in a week. Ermotti was the bank’s top executive

By JENNIFER O’MAHONY Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Renewable energy investors who lost subsidies promised by Spain are heading to a London court to try to claw back $125 million from the government — a decadelong dispute with ramifications for clean energy financing across the European Union. The outcome will be closely watched by investors

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam says its economy slowed sharply in the first quarter of this year, hit by rising costs and weaker demand for its exports. The General Statistics Office reported that the economy expanded at a 3.32% annual pace in January-March, down from 5.9% in the last quarter of 2022. That was much

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and FRANCIS KOKUTSE Associated Press ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — During her visit to Ghana, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has announced more than $1 billion in public and private money for women’s economic empowerment in Africa. Harris made the announcement Wednesday during a meeting with female entrepreneurs. The money is intended to

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday as anxiety about the global financial system began to fade following three high-profile bank failures. Shanghai followed Wall Street lower. Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Oil prices gained. Fears that the global banking system might be cracking under the strain of

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will face sharp questioning Wednesday when he appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to defend the company’s actions during an ongoing unionizing campaign. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent and a vocal supporter of Starbucks labor organizers, has been

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A new indictment charges FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried with directing $40 million in bribes to one or more Chinese officials to unfreeze assets relating to his cryptocurrency business. The rewritten indictment unsealed Tuesday adds a charge of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign

NEW YORK (AP) — New York officials will be able to issue licenses for recreational marijuana dispensaries in some parts of the state now that an appeals court has narrowed the scope of a temporary injunction that had halted them. The ruling by the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals allows the state to hand

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Last week’s fatal blast at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory highlighted the combustibility of food plants in general and chocolate making in particular. Local, state and federal investigations are ongoing. Pennsylvania State Police have said “everything’s on the table” as fire marshals try to pinpoint the origin and cause. Some workers