AP National Business

By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has recommended an overhaul of the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to focus on areas that are most suitable for energy development and raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and water. The long-awaited report by the Interior Department on

By KEN SWEET and PAUL WISEMAN NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market’s losses accelerated on Wall Street Friday, after a coronavirus variant from South Africa appeared to be spreading across the globe and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points. The

HAYDEN, Ala. (AP) — Authorities are trying to figure out how hundreds of FedEx packages ended up dumped in the woods in Alabama. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says 300 to 400 packages of various sizes were found in a ravine near the small town of Hayden on Wednesday. Sheriff Mark Moon said deputies were

The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are sharply lower on Wall Street Friday after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 890 points after an hour of trading. The S&P 500 index was down

By KEN SWEET and PAUL WISEMAN NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are sharply lower on Wall Street Friday after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 890 points after an hour of trading. The S&P 500

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi says a bilateral treaty signed with French President Emmanuel Macron to deepen bilateral cooperation will in turn strengthen the European Union. Draghi told a joint press conference with Macron Friday that the treaty deepens cooperation “in crucial sectors, from security to justice, from research to industry.” That includes

By OLEG CETINIC and THOMAS ADAMSON Associated Press CALAIS, France (AP) — French fishing crews have briefly blocked French ports, ferry traffic across the English Channel and the freight entrance to the Eurotunnel to disrupt the flow of goods to the U.K., in a protest over post-Brexit fishing licenses. It’s the latest tension point between

by KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer Climate activists have blockaded Amazon warehouses in three European countries. It’s part of a global effort to pressure the ecommerce giant on one of its busiest days of the year to improve working conditions and end business practices that hurt the environment. Members of Extinction Rebellion targeted 15 Amazon

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s government has refused to back calls for a swift and sharp lockdown to curb the country’s worsening coronavirus situation, which has seen daily confirmed cases hit a new peak. Health Minister Jens Spahn said contacts between people need to be sharply reduced, warning Friday that “the

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union says it will ease its restrictions on exporting COVID-19 vaccines. The Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said Friday that as of January it will no longer require vaccine producers to request special authorization to export outside the 27-nation bloc. Earlier this year when vaccines

The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Global stocks and oil prices have tumbled after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. London’s benchmark fell 3% and Tokyo lost 2.5%. Shanghai, Frankfurt and Hong Kong also declined. Dow and S&P 500 futures fell with

By ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL AP Science Writer NEW DELHI (AP) — The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has resumed exports of coronavirus vaccines to the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program after halting most overseas sales in March. The company was to have been COVAX’s main supplier, but an explosion of cases in India

CALAIS, France (AP) — French fishing crews temporarily blocked French ports and ferry traffic across the English Channel on Friday to disrupt the flow of goods to the U.K., a symbolic riposte in a dispute over post-Brexit fishing licenses.It’s the latest tension point between the neighboring countries, who are also trading blame for not doing

CALAIS, France (AP) — French fishing crews blocked French ports and ferry traffic across the English Channel on Friday to disrupt the flow of goods to the U.K. in a dispute over post-Brexit fishing licenses. It’s the latest tension point between the neighboring countries, who are also trading blame for not doing enough to prevent

Climate activists are blockading Amazon warehouses across the U.K. on Friday in an attempt to pressure the company on one of its busiest days of the year. They want the ecommerce giant to improve working conditions and end business practices that hurt the environment. Members of Extinction Rebellion targeted 13 Amazon fulfilment centers in the

SHONAL GANGULY Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — Thousands of jubilant Indian farmers waving green and white flags have marked the anniversary of their movement by celebrating a victory that forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw agriculture laws the farmers feared would drastically reduce their incomes. Using tractors, jeeps and cars, farmers from New

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet has approved a $6.8 billion request for an extra defense budget through March to expedite the purchase of missiles, anti-submarine rockets and other weapons amid rising concern over the escalation of military activities by China, Russia and North Korea. The request, still pending parliamentary approval,

BEIRUT (AP) — A group of protesters have stormed a ministry building in Beirut as the Lebanese pound hit a new low amid a worsening economic and political stalemate. The protesters who stormed the Ministry of Social Affairs on Friday said conditions in the crisis-hit country have become unbearable as a result of the rapid

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks and oil prices have tumbled after South Africa found a fast-spreading coronavirus variant and the European Union proposed suspending air travel from southern Africa. London’s benchmark fell 3.3% at the opening and Tokyo lost 2.5%. Shanghai, Frankfurt and Hong Kong also declined. Wall Street