AP National Business

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top diplomat says the bloc is ready to use all tools available to prevent the possible breakup up of ethnically divided Bosnia. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that “there is no place in Europe for a divided Bosnia.” The U.S. last

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is imposing sanctions on several top officials in Myanmar including government ministers, election officials and top military brass over ongoing human rights abuses. The EU on Monday imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 22 people and slapped restrictive measures on four “entities,” including state owned and private companies.

By BERNARD CONDON Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s new social media app has launched. He’s seeking a new digital stage free of Big Tech limits on speech, a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The Truth Social app was offered for download from the Apple App

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that he is scrapping the last domestic coronavirus restrictions in England, including the requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate. Johnson said Monday the country was “moving from government restrictions to personal responsibility” as part of a plan for treating

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman says she’s open to lifting interest rates by more than the traditional quarter-point at the central bank’s next meeting in March. Her comments Monday came after several officials on Friday pushed back against the idea of a half-point increase in the

BERLIN (AP) — German officials have condemned protests by climate activists who blocked roads including near the country’s biggest port. Members of the group Uprising of the Last Generation glued themselves to roads in Stuttgart, Freiburg and near the port of Hamburg on Monday to demand an end to food waste. The group argues that

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s power distribution operator says the deadly high winds that struck last week generated a record level of wind energy, covering some 30% of the demand in Poland, where most of the electricity comes from coal. But as the storm intensified over the weekend, destroying some

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan talks to The Associated Press about the continued strength of consumer spending despite four-decade-high inflation and what it means for interest rates and economic growth this year.

By AMIR VAHDAT and AYA BATRAWY Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s president has arrived in Qatar and was welcomed in an official ceremony by the country’s ruling emir. The president is expected to speak at a global gas summit on Tuesday. His visit to the Arab Gulf state of Qatar, which

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — With all eyes on a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending his top security envoy to the Balkans where Moscow has been trying to maintain influence mainly through its ally Serbia. Serbia’s pro-government media said Monday Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s winter drought is getting worse. The national weather agency reported Monday that 91% of the country is enduring “severe” or “extreme” drought conditions. It said average rainfall for Feb. 1-15 was just 7% of the average over a 30-year period. It added that no significant rainfall is expected for the

By Liz Weston of NerdWallet Everywhere you look, somebody’s willing to give — or sell — you financial advice. In all likelihood, there’s a podcast, video or book that will provide you with some accurate information and/or informed opinions. There are also plenty that will steer you wrong — and following the wrong advice can

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China says it will sanction Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, two U.S. defense contractors that previously faced sanctions, over arms sales to Taiwan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced the sanctions at a daily press briefing Monday. He cited a newly passed Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which took effect in 2021, but

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — World shares are mixed as investors watch for developments in Ukraine after Russia rescinded earlier pledges to pull tens of thousands of its troops away from Ukraine’s northern border. U.S. markets will be closed for a holiday but futures were higher. Shares rose in Europe but

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares are mostly lower after a retreat on Wall Street, as investors watch for developments in Ukraine after Russia rescinded earlier pledges to pull tens of thousands of its troops away from Ukraine’s northern border. Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai declined while Sydney advanced.

By KELVIN CHAN Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Warnings to use disposable “burner” phones and laptops. Privacy-protecting software. Concerns about a security flaw in an official Games smartphone app. Such precautions fueled unease about data privacy for competitors and attendees at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Not everyone heeded them.  Nefarious cyber activity is a

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s largest electricity generator, AGL Energy, has rejected a takeover bid from Australian tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and Canadian investment firm Brookfield. They want AGL to shift faster away from coal-fired power. The preliminary and non-binding offer was for $5.8 billion, or $5.39 per share. AGL said it undervalued the company

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — International tourists and business travelers are arriving in Australia after it lifted its final travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. Families are tearfully reuniting after separations of two years or longer forced by some of the most draconian pandemic measures of any democracy in the world.