National Business - The Morning Sun

La Scala theatre square is filled with 172 coffins, as many as the number of deaths at work that Lombardy recorded in 2023, during a flash mob organised by UIL trade union organization, in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Mock coffins fill a square in Milan in a protest over workplace safety in Italy

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Mock coffins have filled one of Milan’s most famous squares in a protest organized by Italy’s second-largest union to raise awareness over workplace deaths. Protesters lined up 172 cardboard … more

5/10/24

FILE - A shopper passes a display of televisions at a Costco warehouse on April 29, 2024, in Lone Tree, Colo. On Friday May 10, 2024, the University of Michigan releases its preliminary reading of consumer sentiment for May. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

US consumer sentiment drops to 6-month low on inflation, unemployment fears

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Consumer sentiment fell sharply in May to the lowest level in six months as Americans cited concerns about stubbornly high inflation and interest rates and fears that unemployment could rise. The … more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER | 5/10/24

FILE - A beam is measured and marked at a housing site in Madison County, Miss., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Homeowners have been spending more for renovations in recent years, as high interest rates and inflation drove up costs for everything from flooring to refrigerators. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Spending on home renovations slows, but high remodeling costs mean little relief in sight for buyers

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Homeowners have been spending more for renovations in recent years, as high interest rates and inflation drove up costs for everything from flooring to refrigerators. But the home improvement frenzy … more

By ALEX VEIGA | 5/10/24

FILE - The opening page of X is displayed on a computer and phone in Sydney on Oct. 16, 2023. An Australian judge on Friday, May 10, 2024, extended a ban on X Corp. sharing videos of an alleged teenage terrorist stabbing a Sydney bishop last month, government lawyers call the social media platform's free speech argument illusory. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Australian judge extends ban on X sharing video of Sydney bishop's stabbing

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An Australian judge has extended a ban on social media platform X allowing videos of the stabbing of a Sydney bishop in his church last month after government lawyers condemned the company's free … more

By ROD McGUIRK | 5/10/24

Your tax refund could be bigger this year. Here's what to do with it

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The average taxpayer is getting a $2,852 refund, $75 more than last year. That's based on the most recent IRS data. So what should you do with that money? Experts generally advise putting it toward … more

By CORA LEWIS | 5/10/24

Kang Dohyun, South Korea's second vice technology minister, speaks at a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 10, 2024. South Korea vowed Friday to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line in a joint venture with Japan’s SoftBank, to reduce its dependence on its Korean partner, Naver. (Lim Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea stresses need for fair treatment for Line chat app operator Naver

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South Korea has vowed to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line, to reduce its dependence on Naver, the Korean … more

5/10/24

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on his "Investing in America agenda" at Gateway Technical College, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Sturtevant, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Top Biden aide highlights upcoming tax showdown with GOP over 2017 cuts that are due to expire

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The Biden White House wants voters to know its differences with Republicans over taxes. The White House's National Economic Council Director, Lael Brainard, is to deliver remarks Friday on the 2017 … more

By JOSH BOAK | 5/10/24

A general view of the Bank of England in London, Thursday May 9, 2024. The Bank of England has kept its main U.K. interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% with several policymakers still worrying about some key inflation measures. In a statement Thursday, the bank’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to keep rates unchanged, with the 2 dissenters backing a quarter-point reduction. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

British economy rebounds strongly in first quarter of the year, ending 'technical recession'

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The British economy bounced back strongly in the first three months of the year, bringing to an end to what economists termed a “technical recession.” The Office for National Statistics said … more

5/10/24

This photo shows Phoenix Seagaia Resort in Miyazaki, southern Japan, in January 2023. Sega Sammy is selling its resort complex Seagaia to Fortress Investment Group of the U.S., the Japanese entertainment company said Friday, May 10, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese game maker Sega Sammy sells resort to US fund

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Sega Sammy is selling its Japanese resort complex Seagaia to Fortress Investment Group of the U.S. The Japanese entertainment company behind the “Sonic the Hedgehog” video games, said Friday that … more

By YURI KAGEYAMA | 5/10/24

FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom during a news conference, March 21, 2024, in Los Angeles. California announced Thursday, May 9, 2024, it is partnering with five companies to develop generative AI tools to help deliver public services. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

California is testing new generative AI tools. Here's what to know

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California is partnering with five companies to develop generative AI tools to help the state deliver public services. The partnerships were announced Thursday as Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom tries … more

By TRÂN NGUYỄN | 5/10/24

FILE - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda speaks during a joint media conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, on April 2, 2024. Lithuania is holding a presidential election on Sunday May 12, 2024 at a time when Russian gains on the battlefield in Ukraine are fueling greater fears across all of Europe about Moscow's intentions, but particularly in the strategically important Baltic region. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)

Lithuania holds a presidential vote as anxieties rise in the Baltics over Russia and war in Ukraine

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Lithuania is holding a presidential election on Sunday at a time when Russian gains on the battlefield in Ukraine are fueling greater fears across all of Europe about Moscow's intentions. But the … more

By LIUDAS DAPKUS | 5/10/24

FILE - Activists hang a placard from a window of an upper floor of a building at Rhode Island School of Design, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Providence, R.I., as students and supporters, who have taken over a portion of the building, are demanding that the school condemn Israel's war effort in Gaza, and that the school divest from investments that benefit Israel. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Pro-Palestinian protesters demand endowment transparency. But its proving not to be simple

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Some universities are vowing to provide information about how much university endowment money is invested in companies profiting from the Israel-Hamas war amid calls from pro-Palestinian protesters. … more

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and TRISHA AHMED | 5/10/24

FILE - An attendee walks past a display at the Baidu World conference in Beijing, on Nov. 1, 2018. A top public relations executive from Chinese technology firm Baidu apologized Thursday, May 9, 2024, after she made comments in a series of videos that critics said glorified a culture of overwork. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

PR executive reportedly departs China's Baidu after comments glorifying overwork draw backlash

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A top Baidu public relations executive has reportedly departed the Chinese technology company after she drew public outcry over comments that were seen as glorifying a culture of overwork. Baidu’s … more

By ZEN SOO | 5/9/24

PR executive at Chinese tech firm Baidu apologizes for comments seen as glorifying overwork

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A top public relations executive from Chinese technology firm Baidu has apologized after she made comments that were seen as glorifying a culture of overwork. Baidu’s head of communications Qu Jing … more

By ZEN SOO | 5/9/24

FILE - President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Jens Eskelund speaks during a press conference for European Chamber in Beijing, China on March 20, 2024. China is actively seeking foreign investment to boost its slowing growth, but that very sluggishness is weighing on company plans to grow their businesses in the world's second largest economy, an annual survey of more than 500 European companies has found. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)

European companies are less upbeat about China's vast market as its economy slows

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An annual survey of more than 500 European companies has found that slowing growth in China is weighing on company plans to grow their businesses in the world’s second largest economy. China still … more

By KEN MORITSUGU | 5/9/24

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters following Democratic strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate scrambles to pass bill improving air safety and service for travelers as deadline nears

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The Senate is scrambling to pass a $105 billion bill designed to improve air safety and improve customer service for air travelers before the law governing the Federal Aviation Administration expires … more

By MARY CLARE JALONICK | 5/9/24

Technology crushing human creativity? Apple's 'disturbing' new iPad ad has struck a nerve online

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A newly released ad promoting Apple’s new iPad Pro has struck quite a nerve online. The ad shows a hydraulic press crushing just about every creative instrument artists and consumers have used over … more

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS | 5/9/24

FILE - A 1965 Chevrolet Malibu is displayed at the company's booth during Guangzhou 2013 Auto Show in China's southern city of Guangzhou, Nov. 21, 2013. The Malibu, the last midsize car made by a Detroit automaker, is heading for the junkyard. General Motors confirmed Thursday, May 9, 2024, that it will stop making the car introduced in 1964 as the company focuses more on electric vehicles. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Chevrolet Malibu heads for the junkyard as GM shifts focus to electric vehicles

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The Chevrolet Malibu, the last midsize car made by a Detroit automaker, is heading for the junkyard. General Motors confirmed Thursday that it will stop making the car introduced in 1964 as the … more

5/9/24

A woman pays with cash as she buys from a street vendor, Sept. 26, 2017 in New York. Despite numbers showing a healthy economy overall, lower-income spenders are showing the strain. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Despite numbers showing a healthy economy overall, lower-income spenders are showing the strain

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Cracks are showing in one of the main pillars keeping the economy out of a recession: resilient spending by U.S. households. Consumer goods giants from PepsiCo to Kraft Heinz have been describing … more

By STAN CHOE | 5/9/24

Bread products by Pasco Shikishima Corp. on display at a supermarket in Tokyo, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Loaves of bread produced by Pasco Shikishima Corp have been taken off store shelves in Japan after the remains of “a small animal” believed to be a rat were found. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

Bread loaves recalled in Japan after 'rat remains' were found

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Loaves of bread have been taken off store shelves in Japan after the remains of “a small animal” believed to be a rat were found. Production was halted at a Tokyo factory, with 104,000 packages … more

By YURI KAGEYAMA | 5/9/24