AP National Business

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A state appeals court says Louisiana’s largest health system can’t fire or otherwise discipline employees who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 until the mandate’s legality is decided. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal ruled one day before Ochsner Health’s Friday deadline. A state district judge

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wages and salaries jumped in the three months ending in September by the most on records that date back 20 years as companies are forced to offer higher pay to fill a near-record number of available jobs. The Labor Department said Friday that pay increased 1.5%

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has hit Iran with a fresh set of sanctions as President Joe Biden prepares for a key weekend meeting with European leaders to discuss the possible resumption of nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic. The Treasury Department announced the penalties Friday against two senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

By DAVID McHUGH and JOSH BOAK Associated Press ROME (AP) — The global economy is giving leaders of the Group of 20 countries a lot to talk about at their summit this weekend in Rome. The presidents and prime ministers representing 80% of the global economy will confront a recovery hampered by an energy crunch

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Toyota says it is investing $461 million into its first U.S. plant to add new technology, increase production flexibility and reduce its carbon footprint. The announcement Friday didn’t include new jobs at the central Kentucky facility, but officials said 1,400 temporary jobs would be converted into permanent positions. The company said

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s environment minister has pledged to retaliate if France carries through on threats to block U.K. ships from French ports. He warned Friday that “two can play at that game’’ in the worsening dispute rooted in Britain’s departure from the European Union. Britain summoned the French ambassador

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A state appeals court says Louisiana’s largest health system can’t fire or otherwise discipline employees who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 until the mandate’s legality is decided. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal ruled just a day before Ochsner Health’s Friday deadline. A state district

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government is proposing a record budget for 2022 to bolster an economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic, with industrial incentives and cash handouts for the poor and a one-time tax for high-income companies. Finance Minister Zafrul Aziz introduced the $80.2 billion proposed budget, up from $77.4 billion in the

By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writers Stocks edged lower in midday trading on Wall Street Friday, pulling major indexes back from record highs as investors review the latest round of corporate earnings. Big Tech stocks were the biggest drag on the broader market. The S&P 500 was down 0.1%, while the

By AMY TAXIN Associated Press NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Four weeks after an oil spill off Southern California’s coast, surfers have been allowed to return to the waves and people can play in the surf. But fishermen still can’t put lines in the water along the coast. California has prohibited fishing in an area

By LISA MASCARO, AAMER MADHANI and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he’s reached a “historic” framework with congressional Democrats on his sweeping but scaled-back domestic policy plan. But Biden still must secure votes from a few skeptical fellow Democrats. Biden announced the framework at the White House after he

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wages and salaries jumped in the three months ending in September by the most on records that date back 20 years as companies are forced to offer higher pay to fill a near-record number of available jobs. The Labor Department said Friday that pay increased 1.5%

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wages and salaries jumped in the three months ending in September by the most on records that date back twenty years as companies are forced to offer higher pay to fill a near-record number of available jobs. The Labor Department said Friday that pay increased 1.5%

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Exxon Mobil swung to a hefty profit in its third quarter, thanks to increased demand for oil and higher prices. The oil and natural gas company company earned $6.75 billion, or $1.57 per share, reversing last year’s loss. Smaller rival Chevron also swung to a profit, and the two

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — American consumers slowed their spending to a gain of just 0.6% in September, a cautionary sign for an economy that remains in the grip of a pandemic and a prolonged bout of high inflation. At the same time, a key inflation barometer that is closely followed

By HUZHONG WU Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The U.S. wants to deepen its relationship with Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by China, which has become a major point of conflict in the strained U.S.-China relationship. Sandra Oudkirk, the new director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy, reiterated the U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government has proposed record spending for 2022 to bolster post-pandemic economic recovery, with various industrial incentives and cash handouts for the poor and windfall taxes for high-income companies. Finance Minister Zarful Aziz put forward in Parliament the budget proposal of 332.1 billion ringgit, or $80.2 billion, up from $77.4

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Exxon Mobil swung to a hefty profit in its third quarter, thanks to increased demand for oil and higher prices. The oil and natural gas company company earned $6.75 billion, or $1.57 per share. A year earlier it lost $680 million, or 15 cents per share. Stripping out certain

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch data protection watchdog has issued a damning report on the country’s tax office, saying it breached the country’s privacy law for years by keeping a list of potential fraudsters. It was another blow for the scandal-plagued Dutch tax office that is embroiled in