National Business - The Morning Sun

Commuters wearing face masks ride across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing, Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China defends 'zero-COVID' after US envoy warns of costs

China is defending its tough “zero-COVID” policy after the U.S. ambassador said it is causing serious damage to the global economy and foreign business sentiment. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson … more

6/17/22

FILE - Character Buzz Lightyear stands near the entrance to the Aliens Swirling Saucers ride at Toy Story Land in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., June 23, 2018. Malaysia's film censors said Friday, June 17, 2022, that it was Disney's decision to ax the animated film “Lightyear” from the country's cinemas after refusing to cut scenes promoting homosexuality. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Malaysia: Disney refused to cut gay scenes in 'Lightyear'

Malaysia’s film censors say it was Disney’s decision to ax the animated film “Lightyear” from the country’s cinemas after refusing to cut scenes promoting homosexuality. The Film Censorship … more

6/17/22

President Joe Biden speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden hosts climate meeting amid high gas price pressure

President Joe Biden will convene a virtual meeting of some of the world's largest economies to discuss the next steps on climate change. Among the participants will be China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, … more

By CHRIS MEGERIAN | 6/17/22

This photo shows an airplane of Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair at Narita Airport in Narita, near Tokyo June 15, 2022. The carrier is changing the design on its tail from the letter "Z," which resembles the symbol on Russian tanks. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Zipair changes logo to nix perception of Russia link

Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair is changing the design on its tail from the letter “Z,” which resembles the symbol on Russian tanks. Zipair President Shingo Nishida made the announcement this … more

6/17/22

Church members console each other after a shooting at the Saint Stevens Episcopal Church on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Vestavia, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Alabama church shooting kills 2, wounds 1; suspect held

Police in Alabama say a single gunman opened fired on a small group meeting at a suburban church, killing two people and injuring a third before being taken into custody. The attack took place … more

6/17/22

President Joe Biden listens to a question during an interview with the Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Transcript of AP interview with President Joe Biden

A transcript of an Oval Office interview Thursday with President Joe Biden by AP White House reporter Josh Boak. more

By The Associated Press | 6/16/22

FILE - Syringes and colorful bandages are prepared as children from local schools prepare to get COVID-19 vaccines in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday Dec. 13, 2021. (Ben Garver/The Berkshire Eagle via AP, File)

Florida only state not pre-ordering toddler COVID-19 jabs

Florida is the only the state that hasn’t preordered COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers in anticipation of their final approval by the federal government. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday … more

6/16/22

President Joe Biden speaks before signing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden says new shipping costs law may help tame inflation

President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday meant to lower the cost of shipping goods across oceans. It's a move the White House says will help ease logistical costs for retailers that have … more

By WILL WEISSERT | 6/16/22

FILE - Chickens walk in a fenced pasture at an organic farm near Waukon, Iowa on Oct. 21, 2015. The bird flu outbreak that led to the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys in the U.S. in 2022 appears to finally be waning, but experts caution the virus hasn't disappeared and another surge in cases is possible this fall. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Bird flu outbreak waning but threat of virus lingers

A bird flu outbreak in the U.S. that led to the deaths of more than 40 million chickens and turkeys and contributed to a spike in egg and meat prices appears to be waning, but experts caution the … more

By JOSH FUNK | 6/16/22

Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey's environmental protection commissioner, right, holds the hand of Angel Stefancik, a member of the Turtle Clan of the Ramapough Lenape, after at a press conference in Ringwood, N.J., on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at which New Jersey officials announced litigation against Ford Motor Company, alleging the company contaminated tribal land by dumping paint sludge and other pollutants into a former iron mine. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

New Jersey sues Ford over mining that tainted tribal land

New Jersey officials are suing Ford Motor Co. because they say the automaker contaminated the ancestral homeland of a Native American tribe by dumping paint sludge and other pollutants into a former … more

By WAYNE PARRY | 6/16/22

FILE - A U.S. Department of Homeland Security plaque is displayed a podium as international passengers arrive at Miami international Airport where they are screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Nov. 20, 2020, in Miami. Employees accused of misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security could face more stringent penalties under an overhaul announced Thursday that follows complaints about the handling of internal discipline in the third largest U.S. government agency. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Homeland Security tightens scrutiny of internal misconduct

Employees accused of misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security could face more stringent penalties under an overhaul that follows complaints about the handling of internal discipline in the … more

By BEN FOX | 6/16/22

FILE - Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, takes part in the East German Economic Forum (OWF) in Bad Saarow, Germany, Monday, June 13, 2022. Habeck is stepping up an appeal for the country's residents to save energy after Russia's Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas deliveries through a key pipeline. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP, File)

Germany steps up calls to save energy as Russia reduces gas

Germany’s vice chancellor is stepping up an appeal for the country's residents to save energy after Russia’s Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas deliveries through a key pipeline. … more

6/16/22

FILE - An Afghan National Army pickup truck passes parked U.S. armored military vehicles, as smoke rises from a fire in a trash burn pit at Forward Operating Base Caferetta Nawzad, Helmand province south of Kabul, Afghanistan, April 28, 2011. The Senate is expected to approve on Thursday a large expansion of health care and disability benefits for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits. (AP Photo/Simon Klingert, File)

Senate set to enhance benefits for vets exposed to burn pits

The Senate is expected to approve a large expansion of health care and disability benefits for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits. … more

By KEVIN FREKING | 6/16/22

FILE - A motorist pumps gasoline at an ARCO gas station in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 12, 2022. Soaring gasoline prices have left many consumers with no choice but to cut spending on non-essentials, but it might be coming full circle by stopping some drivers from filling up their tanks. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

High gasoline prices crimping drivers' spending at the pump

Soaring gasoline prices have left many consumers with no choice but to cut spending on non-essentials, but it might be coming full circle by stopping some drivers from filling up their tanks. This … more

By DAMIAN J. TROISE | 6/16/22

FILE - Elon Musk attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" exhibition on May 2, 2022, in New York. Musk is expected to meet with Twitter employees Thursday, June 16, 2022 in an apparent effort to assuage concerns about his $44 billion deal to acquire the social platform. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Musk aims to ease concerns in address to Twitter workers

In an unusual move for what’s been an unusual takeover bid for Twitter by the world’s richest man, Tesla CEO Elon Musk will address the social platform’s employees Thursday, even though his $44 … more

Associated Press | 6/16/22

In this photo provided by UK Parliament, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament via AP)

Ethics adviser to scandal-hit UK leader Boris Johnson quits

The ethics adviser to scandal-hit British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has quit and accused the government of seeking to flout conduct rules. In a resignation letter, Christopher Geidt said he was … more

By JILL LAWLESS | 6/16/22

Firm behind popular US dollar stablecoin to launch Euro Coin

The cryptocurrency company Circle says it will start issuing its first euro-denominated cryptocurrency, a stablecoin known as Euro Coin, later this month. It would be the first stablecoin in euros … more

By KEN SWEET | 6/16/22

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs of India, speaks in front of journalists before the closing of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Talks are going down to the wire as the World Trade Organization is set to wrap up its first ministerial-level meeting in more than four years.(Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

WTO talks down to the wire with no major deals yet in sight

Talks are going down to the wire as the World Trade Organization is set to wrap up its first ministerial-level meeting in more than four years. So far, no firm deal is in sight Thursday on issues … more

By JAMEY KEATEN | 6/16/22

Supporters of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) gather during a rally outside its headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, Thursday, June 16, 2022. A nationwide public sector strike in Tunisia is poised to paralyze land and air transportation and other vital activities Thursday with the North African nation already in the midst of a deteriorating economic crisis. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)

Public workers strike in Tunisia, signaling national crisis

A nationwide public sector strike in Tunisia is poised to paralyze land and air transportation and other vital activities with the North African nation already in the midst of a deteriorating … more

By FRANCESCA EBEL and BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA | 6/16/22

FILE - Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism Klaus Regling speaks during a media conference after a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Lisbon on May 21, 2021. Finance ministers from the 19 countries that share the euro currency may decide Thursday, June 16, 2022 on a successor to Germany’s Klaus Regling as managing director of the European Stability Mechanism. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

Euro rescue fund to get new chief as its old glory fades

Finance ministers from the 19 countries that share the euro currency could decide Thursday on a successor to lead Europe’s financial rescue fund. But a question that has hung over the monthslong … more

6/16/22