Business News

Southwest to limit hires, drop airports after loss

Rise of the 'superfake' handbag in the U.S.

8 years after the National Enquirer's deal with Donald Trump, the iconic tabloid is limping badly

TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What's the legal outlook?

As Biden celebrates computer chip factories, voters wait for the promised production to start

Are lab-grown diamonds sustainable?

Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen as Houthi rebel campaign appears to gain new speed

Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anyway

Data centers could threaten climate, experts say

The Associated Press
Making cement is very damaging for the climate. One solution is opening in California
The cement industry is one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and is responsible for some 8% of global emissions each year
April 11, 2024

1 hour ago

Meta Platforms, O'Reilly Automotive fall; Chipotle, TransUnion rise, Thursday, 4/25/2024

Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Thursday: Meta Platforms, O’Reilly Automotive fall; Chipotle, TransUnion rise

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Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs for fourth straight week to highest level since November

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year

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An "Under Contract" sign is displayed at a home in Wilmette, Ill., Thursday, March 28, 2024. On Thursday, April 25, 2024, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Gusts of activity underway by friends and foes of offshore wind energy projects

Supporters of offshore wind energy projects in New Jersey and New York are trading blows with opponents in some shore towns who say vacationers and local residents don't want to see turbines filling the ocean horizon

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The sun sets behind spinning land-based wind turbines in Atlantic City, N.J., on Dec. 13, 2023. On April 24, 2024, eight Jersey Shore towns wrote to New Jersey utility regulators saying that a proposed wind farm off Long Beach Island will be costlier than expected. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

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Honda planning to expand its electric vehicle efforts in Canada, Toyota expands in Indiana

Honda plans to invest $11 billion, with the help of joint venture partners, to build out its electric vehicle efforts in Canada as it prepares for future demand in North America for the automobiles

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FILE - The Honda Marysville Auto Plant is shown on March 18, 2020, in Marysville, Ohio. Honda plans to invest $11 billion, with the help of joint venture partners, to build out its electric vehicle efforts in Canada as it prepares for future demand in North America for the automobiles. The company said Thursday, April 25, 2024 that it has started evaluating the requirements to build an EV plant and a separate EV battery plant in Ontario. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

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8 years after the National Enquirer's deal with Donald Trump, the iconic tabloid is limping badly

Catch and kill

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Former President Donald Trump, left, watches as David Pecker answers questions on the witness stand, far right, from assistant district attorney Joshua Steingless, in Manhattan criminal court, April 23, 2024, in New York. Testimony by the former National Enquirer publisher at Donald Trump's hush money trial this week has revealed an astonishing level of corruption at America's best-known tabloid and may one day be seen as the moment it effectively died. On Thursday, April 25, 2024 Pecker was back on the witness stand to tell more about the arrangement he made to boost Trump's presidential candidacy in 2016, tear down his rivals and silence any revelations that may have damaged him. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

2 hours ago

FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access

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FILE - A person pushes the doorbell on his Ring doorbell camera, July 16, 2019, at his home in Wolcott, Conn. The Federal Trade Commission is sending $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

2 hours ago

U.S. labor secretary says UAW win at Tennessee Volkswagen plant shows southern workers back unions

Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su says workers at southern auto plants should be free to unionize without employer or political interference, even as some southern states pass new laws meant to inhibit organized labor

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Acting United States Secretary of Labor Julie Su poses for a photo, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Atlanta. Su says workers at southern auto plants should be free to unionize without employer or political interference, even as some southern states pass new laws meant to inhibit organized labor. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

3 hours ago

Seattle Kraken move games to over-the-air broadcaster with streaming on Amazon's Prime Video

The Seattle Kraken will move their games to an over-the-air broadcaster and have a streaming partnership with Amazon’s Prime Video beginning with the 2024-25 season

3 hours ago

Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord defends against a Minnesota Wild shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 18, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

3 hours ago

A Chinese ship remains the focus of the investigation into Baltic Sea gas pipeline damaged last year

Authorities in Finland say a Chinese container ship remains the focus of an investigation into what caused damage last year to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline between NATO members Finland and Estonia

3 hours ago

FILE - In this picture provided by Swedish Coast Guard, a leak from Nord Stream 2 is seen, on Sept. 28, 2022. A Chinese container ship remains to be the prime suspect in causing damage last year to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline running between NATO members Finland and Estonia which was reopened this week after multimillion-euro repair work, (Swedish Coast Guard via AP, File)

3 hours ago

New rules on coal power plants target pollution 'pushing our planet to the brink,' EPA Administrator Michael Regan says

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4 hours ago

Congo questions Apple over knowledge of conflict minerals in its supply chain

Congo’s government is questioning Apple about the tech company’s knowledge of “blood minerals” from a conflict zone in the African country that could be smuggled into supply chains

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FILE - A Congolese miner sifts through ground rocks to separate out the cassiterite, the main ore that's processed into tin, in the town of Nyabibwe, eastern Congo, Aug. 16, 2012. Congo’s government is questioning Apple about the tech company’s knowledge of “blood minerals” from a conflict zone in the African country that could be smuggled into supply chains. A group of international lawyers representing Congo said Thursday, April 25, 2024, that it sent letters to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and its French subsidiary this week raising concerns about human rights violations involving the minerals extracted from mines in the country’s war-torn east. (AP Photo/Marc Hofer, File)

April 25

Amazon cloud computing unit plans to invest $11 billion to build data center in northern Indiana

Amazon’s cloud computing unit Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion to build a data center in northern Indiana that will create at least 1,000 new jobs

April 25

Union Pacific's first-quarter profit creeps up 1% as railroad limits expenses

Union Pacific's first-quarter profit crept 1% higher and topped Wall Street expectations as the railroad tightened up on expenses even though it delivered slightly less freight

April 25

FILE - A Union Pacific worker walks between two locomotives that are being serviced in a railyard in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Dec. 15, 2023. Union Pacific reports earnings on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)

April 25

US applications for jobless claims fall to lowest level in 9 weeks

Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to hold up despite higher interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve in its bid to curb inflation

April 25

US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6% rate, reflecting an economy pressured by high rates

April 25

April 25

Southwest will limit hiring and drop 4 airports after loss. American Airlines posts 1Q loss as well

American and Southwest airlines both say they lost money in the first quarter, and they're responding by trying to cut costs

April 25

FILE - A line of Southwest Air Boeing 737 jets are parked near the company's production plant while being stored at Paine Field Friday, April 23, 2021, in Everett, Wash. Southwest Air reports earnings on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

April 25

EU military officer says a frigate has destroyed a drone launched from Yemen's Houthi-held areas

A top European Union top military officer says a frigate that’s part of an EU mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels

April 25

General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU's Military Committee talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with the Cyprus national guard chief Georgios Tsitsikostas at the Defense Ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union's top military official says a frigate that's part of an EU military mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. Brieger said the downing of the drone took place Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

April 25

French air traffic controllers cancel a strike but Paris flights are still disrupted

Air passengers traveling to and from Paris have experienced significant disruptions Thursday, despite a decision by air traffic controllers to cancel a strike after last-minute negotiations

April 25

FILE - The air traffic control tower of Charles de Gaulle airport is pictured in Roissy-en-France, north of Paris, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in Paris. Air passengers traveling to and from Paris experienced significant disruptions on Thursday, despite a canceled strike by air traffic controllers after last-minute negotiations. Although the strike was averted, the prior adjustments made in anticipation caused a substantial reduction in flight operations. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

April 25

What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less, exercise?

New weight loss drugs are reshaping a dieting industry built on eating less and exercising more

April 25

A TheraLight red light therapy bed is pictured at the MIORA clinic at the Life Time at Target Center, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Minneapolis. Luxury athletic club operator Life Time launched a program that offers comprehensive medical testing, personalized training and a host of alternative therapies like cryotherapy. The Miora program also offers Ozempic and other weight loss drugs through the clinic that opened in Minneapolis last year. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

April 25

Strict new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan says new rules that would force power plants fueled by coal or natural gas to capture smokestack emissions or shut down are targeting pollution that's “pushing our planet to the brink.”

April 25

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announces final standards to reduce pollution from power plants during an event at Howard University on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

April 25

As Biden celebrates computer chip factories, voters wait for the promised production to start

President Joe Biden has a great economic story to tell voters a decade from now — less so in 2024

April 25

President Joe Biden speaks to the North America's Building Trade Union National Legislative Conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

April 25

Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen as Houthi rebel campaign appears to gain new speed

A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden has come under attack, the latest assault likely carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip

April 25

This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)

April 25

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

French President Emmanuel Macron is warning that Europe could “die” if it fails to build its own robust defense as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on

April 25

Technical glitch temporarily closed southern Norway airspace, causing delays at Oslo airport

A technical problem caused aviation authorities in Norway to temporarily close the airspace over the south of the country, leading to significant delays at Oslo airport

April 25

April 25

Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show

The seemingly never-ending efforts of China’s electric car makers to redefine the automobile are on display at the nation’s largest annual auto show

April 25

Stock market today: Wall Street tumbles after dispiriting data on the economy, as Meta sinks

Stocks are tumbling after a report suggesting flagging economic growth and still-high inflation hurt the hopes that have kept Wall Street high recently

April 25

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

April 25

This 'supereasy ramen' recipe shows how easy it is to make the Japanese noodle dish at home

Ramen noodles are so popular that they've become one reason to visit Japan

April 25

A ramen noodled is added to the soup being cooked in Tokyo, on April 22, 2024. Ramen noodles are so popular they have become one reason to visit Japan. But ramen can easily be cooked at home too, especially if you can find the ingredients at your neighborhood Asian grocery store. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

April 25

More than just a bowl of noodles, ramen in Japan is an experience and a tourist attraction

Spicy, steaming, slurpy, ramen might be everyone’s favorite Japanese food

April 25

A staff member prepares to serve noodles for participants of Tokyo Ramen Tours at Syuuichi, which means "once a week," featuring curry-flavored ramen, at Shibuya district on April 2, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

April 25

Venice tests a 5-euro entry fee for day-trippers as the Italian city grapples with overtourism

The fragile lagoon city of Venice has launched a pilot program to charge day-trippers a 5-euro or $5.35 entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents

April 25

Marco Bettini, director of Venis Informatics System, gestures as he talks to reporters at the police Venice control room, in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday, April 25, 2024 to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

April 24

Instagram fraudster 'Jay Mazini' has been sentenced for his crypto scheme that preyed on Muslims

The former Instagram influencer known as “Jay Mazini” has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting he stole millions of dollars in various investment scams

April 24

April 24

TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What's the legal outlook?

Legislation forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the video-sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. has received President Joe Biden’s official signoff

April 24

Connecticut Senate passes wide-ranging bill to regulate AI. But its fate remains uncertain

The Connecticut Senate has passed one of the first major legislative proposals in the U.S. to rein in bias in artificial intelligence decision-making and protect people from harm

April 24

New California rule aims to limit health care cost increases to 3% annually

A new rule in California aims to limit health care price increases to just 3% each year

April 24

FILE - Registered nurse Sandra Younan sets up a new intravenous line for a patient under her care at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on March 11, 2021. A new rule in California aims to limit health care price increases to just 3% each year. The Health Care Affordability Board approved the rule on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. It sets a statewide cost growth target of 3% each year. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

April 24

That's rich: Rise in all-cash transactions helping drive price gains for most expensive US homes

Well-heeled home shoppers are increasingly paying cash, helping turbo-charge price gains for the most expensive U.S. homes

April 24

FILE - Dollar bills are shown in New York, Oct. 24, 2016. Well-heeled home shoppers are increasingly paying cash, helping turbo-charge price gains for the most expensive U.S. homes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

April 24

More cows are being tested and tracked for bird flu. Here's what that means

U.S. health and agriculture officials are ramping up testing and tracking of bird flu in dairy cows in an urgent effort to understand and stop the growing outbreak

April 24

April 24

Ford's 1Q net income falls 24% as combustion engine unit sees sales and revenue decline

Ford Motor Co.’s first-quarter net income fell 24% from a year ago as the company’s combustion engine vehicle unit saw revenue and sales decline

April 24

FILE - A worker walks past neon signs for Ford at the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Ford reports their earnings on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

April 24

US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6% pace, reflecting an economy pressured by high rates

The nation’s economy slowed sharply last quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, but consumers — the main driver of economic growth — kept spending at a solid pace

April 24

FILE - Articulated robots move inside the Hanwha Qcells Solar plant, Oct. 16, 2023, in Dalton, Ga. On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the U.S. government issues the first of three estimates of economic growth in the first quarter. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

April 24

Missouri House backs legal shield for weedkiller maker facing thousands of cancer-related lawsuits

The Missouri House has passed legislation that could protect chemical manufacturer Bayer from some lawsuits alleging a popular weedkiller causes cancer

April 24

Southwest Airlines flight attendants ratify a contract that will raise pay about 33% over 4 years

Southwest Airlines flight attendants have ratified a new contract that will boost their pay by about one-third over four years

April 24

FILE - Southwest Airlines plane prepares to land at Midway International Airport, Feb. 12, 2023, in Chicago. Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, ratified a contract that includes pay raises totaling more than 33% over four years, as airline workers continue to benefit from the industry's recovery since the pandemic. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

April 24

Kansas' governor vetoed tax cuts again over their costs. Some fellow Democrats backed it

The Democratic governor in Kansas has vetoed a broad package of tax cuts for the second time in three months

April 24

Kansas House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, praises a plan for cutting income, sales and property taxes by a total of more than $1.5 billion over three years during a meeting of House Democrats, Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. House Democrats favor the plan, but Senate Democrats largely oppose it. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

April 24

Meta more than doubles Q1 profit but revenue guidance pulls shares down after-hours

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta says its first-quarter profit more than doubled, boosted by higher advertising revenue and a 6% increase on the average price of ads on its platforms

April 24

How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 4/24/2024

U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish

April 24

April 24

Tesla driver in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist told police he was using Autopilot

A Tesla that may have been operating on the company’s Autopilot driving system has hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle

April 24

FILE - A Tesla sign is seen at a dealership, Dec. 3, 2023, in Buena Park, Calif. A Tesla that may have been operating on the company's Autopilot driving system hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle on Friday, April 19, 2024, raising questions about whether a recent recall went far enough to ensure that Tesla drivers using Autopilot pay attention to the road. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

April 24

The US is now allowed to seize Russian state assets. How would that work?

The big U.S. aid package for Ukraine and other allies that President Joe Biden signed Wednesday also allows the administration to seize Russian state assets located in the U.S. and use them for the benefit of Kyiv

April 24

Billionaire Texas oilman inks deal with Venezuela's state-run oil giant as US sanctions loom

A company started by a Texas billionaire oilman has announced a deal with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company to rehabilitate five aging oil fields

April 24

April 24

Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anyway

President Joe Biden’s signing of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. runs counter to his campaign’s embrace of the platform and outreach to influencers

April 24

FILE - A man carries a Free TikTok sign in front of the courthouse where the hush-money trial of Donald Trump got underway April 15, 2024, in New York. The House has passed legislation Saturday, April 20, to ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake, sending it to the Senate as part of a larger package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. House Republicans' decision to add the TikTok bill to the foreign aid package fast-tracked the legislation after it had stalled in the Senate. The aid bill is a priority for President Joe Biden that has broad congressional support. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

April 24

How US changes to 'noncompete' agreements and overtime pay could affect workers

For millions of American workers, the government took two actions this week that could bestow potentially far-reaching benefits

April 24

FILE - The Federal Trade Commission building is seen, Jan. 28, 2015, in Washington. U.S. companies would no longer be able to bar employees from taking jobs with competitors under a rule approved by the FTC on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, though the rule seems sure to be challenged in court. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

April 24

Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for June delivery fell 55 cents to $82.81 per barrel Wednesday

April 24

April 24

Oracle's Larry Ellison says planned Nashville campus will be company's 'world headquarters'

Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison says the business software giant’s planned campus in Nashville, Tennessee, will serve as its world headquarters and place it in a city that's a center of the health care industry

April 24