AP National Business

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writers Even coming off its fastest rate of annual growth in 37 years, the U.S. economy is still bogged down by a persistent shortage of the computer chips essential to the technology that connects, transports, and entertains us. The problem has been building since pandemic-related lockdowns shut

By ROB GILLIES and TOM KRISHER Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — The truck blockade at the U.S. border by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, Toyota and General Motors to shut down plants or otherwise curtail production. The bumper-to-bumper demonstration entered its fourth day Thursday

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press The largest public power company in the United States is launching a program to develop and fund new small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The board for the Tennessee Valley Authority on Thursday authorized the program, with up to $200 million

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and JOSH BOAK Associated Press CULPEPER, Virginia (AP) — President Joe Biden is trying to jump-start progress on his stalled domestic agenda by refocusing attention on one of his most popular proposals, limiting the cost of prescription drugs. Biden spoke during a visit to a community college in Culpeper, Virginia, following the

By MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Congress has given final approval to legislation guaranteeing that people who experience sexual harassment at work can seek recourse in the courts. It’s a milestone for the #MeToo movement that prompted a national reckoning on the way sexual misconduct claims are handled in the U.S.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its highest rate in four decades, hammering America’s consumers, wiping out pay raises and reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s decision to begin raising borrowing rates across the economy. The Labor Department said Thursday that consumer prices jumped 7.5% last month

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — For the first time since the Premier League began 30 years ago, more cash will be generated from overseas broadcasters for the next three seasons than for domestic rights. Clubs were informed by the league at a meeting of top executives on Thursday that it

By BASSEM MROUE Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s government has approved the state budget for the current year, with a 17% deficit. The prime minister described the development on Thursday as a first step in reforms desperately needed in the crisis-hit country. The budget will now be sent to parliament for discussion and once

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president is vowing to press ahead with changes to the electrical power industry despite U.S. concerns that they could close off markets, choke competition and possibly violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Thursday the proposed changes “don’t affect the treaty at all.” But he

BELFORT, France (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron says France plans to build six new nuclear reactors and to extend the life of existing nuclear plants. The plans are part of the country’s strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Macron said on Thursday that the construction work is to start around

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Coca-Cola posted better-than-expected sales in the fourth quarter as venues like coffee shops and movie theaters continued to reopen. Coke Chairman and CEO James Quincey said the company saw some impact from the omicron variant in December and January, but the disruption was not as great as previous waves

GENEVA (AP) — Two independent U.N. human rights experts are calling on Sweden’s government not to issue a license to industrial backers of a planned iron-ore mine that environmentalists say would generate large amounts of toxic waste and other pollution. The proposed project would involve British company Beowulf Mining and their Swedish subsidiary Jokkmokk Iron

By JARI TANNER Associated Press HELSINKI (AP) — Latvia’s parliament has passed a Holocaust restitution bill that includes funding to revitalize the Baltic nation’s Jewish community, which was almost completely wiped out during World War II. Lawmakers voted 64-21 on Thursday to approve a law that also provides compensation for property that belonged to Lativan

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are swinging Thursday as expectations build that the Federal Reserve will have to get more aggressive about removing the support it’s given the economy. The hottest inflation reading since 1982 sent the S&P 500 down 0.2% in morning trading. It also sent Treasury yields

By ROB GILLIES and TOM KRISHER Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — The truck blockade at the U.S. border by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, Toyota and General Motors to shut down plants or otherwise curtail production. The bumper-to-bumper demonstration entered its fourth day Thursday

By STAN CHOE, DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell Thursday as expectations build that the Federal Reserve will have to get more aggressive about removing the support it’s given the economy. The hottest inflation reading since 1982 sent the S&P 500 down 1.7% in afternoon trading.

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan has granted fast-track approval to U.S. drug maker Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 pill as the country struggles to slow fast-spreading omicron infections. The health minister says the availability of Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill gives high-risk patients, including elderly people and those with underlying health issues, greater treatment options.

By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A lawsuit over high health bills filed on behalf of more than 3 million employers and people is seeking as much as $1.2 billion from one of Northern California’s largest health systems. Plaintiffs in the antitrust class-action trial getting underway Thursday allege that Sutter Health abused

By ROB GILLIES and TOM KRISHER Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — The truck blockade at the U.S. border by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, Toyota and General Motors to shut down plants or otherwise curtail production. The bumper-to-bumper demonstration entered its fourth day Thursday