AP National Business

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Two of the U.K.’s biggest mobile phone operators have agreed to merge their businesses to capitalize on the rollout of next-generation 5G wireless technology in the country. The merger of Vodafone U.K. and Three U.K., which is owned by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, will create Britain’s biggest

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Shell has effectively abandoned a plan to cut oil production by 1-2% per year until the end of the decade. Europe’s largest energy company argued Wednesday that it had already met the target it had set for itself in 2021 through asset sales. It says it has

By CORA LEWIS and ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — After three years, the pandemic-era freeze on student loan payments will end soon. Student loan interest will start accruing on September 1 and payments are starting in October. It might seem tempting to just keep not making payments, but the consequences can be

By KELVIN CHAN and SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union antitrust regulators took aim at Google’s lucrative digital advertising business in an unprecedented decision, saying Wednesday that the tech giant must sell off some of its ad business to address competition concerns. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch and top antitrust

By KATE ASHFORD of NerdWallet As many as 8 in 10 older Americans couldn’t afford more than four years in an assisted living facility or two years in a nursing home, according to a recent analysis. This is particularly hard for people in the monetary middle; they don’t have enough to cover the costs of

BEIJING (AP) — China says it’s established a “strategic partnership” with the Palestinian Authority during a visit to the country by President Mahmoud Abbas. The announcement on Wednesday marked another step in China’s campaign to gain political and economic influence in the Middle East. The region is a new field for competition between Beijing and

By KELVIN CHAN and SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union antitrust regulators are taking aim at Google’s lucrative digital advertising business, ordering the tech giant to sell off some of its ad business to address competition concerns. The European Commission said Wednesday that its preliminary view after an investigation is that “only

By CORA LEWIS and ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — After three years, the pandemic-era freeze on student loan payments will end in late August. It might seem tempting to just keep not making payments, but the consequences can be severe, including a hit to your credit score and exclusion from future aid

NEW YORK — Mesabi: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

By NICK KURCZEWSKI Edmunds The electric car market is speeding up as consumer interest in EVs grows and a steady stream of new models are introduced. And speed is the operative word when it comes to describing the 2023 Kia EV6 GT and Tesla Model Y Performance. These electric SUVs have all-wheel drive, sport suspensions,

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures were mixed Wednesday after a cooler reading on U.S. inflation buoyed hopes the Federal Reserve will postpone a possible interest rate hike. London and Frankfurt opened higher. Shanghai and Hong Kong declined while Tokyo advanced. Oil prices rose. Wall

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Lawmakers in Europe signed off Wednesday on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules for artificial intelligence, clearing a key hurdle as authorities across the globe race to rein in AI. The European Parliament vote is one of the last steps before the rules become law,

By VICTORIA MILKO AP Science Writer JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Power outages are leaving Vietnamese homes and businesses without power for hours at a time, as a prolonged drought and high temperatures strain the fast-growing economy’s capacity to keep up. A long-anticipated plan meant to fix the energy crunch and help achieve ambitious climate change

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press BAR ELIAS, Lebanon (AP) — Six months after she got the call informing her that her U.N. assistance would be cut, Najwa al-Jassem is struggling to feed her four children and pay rent for their tent in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. She once received food

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday after a cooler reading on U.S. inflation buoyed hopes the Federal Reserve will postpone a possible interest rate hike. Shanghai, Tokyo and Sydney rose while Hong Kong and Seoul declined. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index gained 0.7% to a

By LISA RATHKE Associated Press SHELBURNE, Vt. (AP) — Vineyards and apple orchards across the Northeast are still gauging damage from a late-season frost in May that wiped out a third to most of the crop for some growers who say it’s the worst frost damage they’ve ever seen. Some states are seeking federal disaster

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOYOTA, Japan (AP) — Toyota’s shareholders have rejected demands from some investors that the automaker do a better job on fighting climate change. They also endorsed Akio Toyoda’s reappointment as chairman of the automaker. The investor proposal was initiated by AkademikerPension, a $20 billion Danish investment fund. It accused