What to know about the protests over a Trump family-linked resort in Albania

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refuses to say whether Trump remains exempt from IRS audits

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refused to say Wednesday whether President Donald Trump and his family would still get immunity from IRS audits after the administration abandoned plans for a $1.776 billion compensation fund that would have benefited the president’s allies.

A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Life tasks like paying bills, canceling subscriptions and answering overdue emails are becoming a reason to socialize for friends, couples, roommates and other people who get together for what's known as “admin dates.”

Whither ‘60 Minutes’? As turmoil unspools in public, CBS News show’s ultimate health is debated

NEW YORK (AP) — “This is ‘60 Minutes,’” Harry Reasoner announced on Sept. 24, 1968, introducing his new CBS News show alongside fellow correspondent Mike Wallace. “It’s kind of a magazine for television.”

SpaceX's IPO is set to be the biggest ever and could make Elon Musk a trillionaire

SpaceX says it plans to raise up to $75 billion when it goes public this month, setting the stage for the largest-ever stock market debut and putting Elon Musk on course to becoming the world’s first trillionaire. The company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said Wednesday.

Polymarket cuts ties with George Santos as regulators probe trades on rival prediction market

NEW YORK (AP) — The online prediction platform Polymarket is ending its paid relationship with George Santos as federal regulators investigate whether the former congressman illegally bet against his own attendance at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union.

Canadian government tells regulator to back off on charging streamers like Netflix more

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada's government directed its television and communications regulator to back down from a recent decision to triple financial contributions required from U.S. streaming services such as Netflix for Canadian content, the country's culture minister said Wednesday.

Spanish hotel chain Meliá to shutter hotels in Cuba in latest blow to island's tourism sector

HAVANA (AP) — Spanish hotel chain Meliá has joined a growing list of companies with a long-standing presence in Cuba that are withdrawing or limiting their operations on the island after the U.S. announced new sanctions while upholding an oil embargo.

Lahn's win in GOP primary for Iowa governor is a setback for Trump that could signal MAHA strength

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Businessman Zach Lahn's win in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary over President Donald Trump’s pick, Rep. Randy Feenstra, delivered a rare electoral setback for Trump in a primary season that had previously handed him back-to-back victories.

Ford recall for seat belt issue and a do-not-drive order for some Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles

Ford is recalling almost 420,000 vehicles because of a seat belt issue that may result in an injury if a crash occurs. The automaker separately said that it was recalling more than 4,600 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles and issuing a do not driving warning due to a suspension-related issue. Tha...

What to know: Protests grow over Trump family-linked resort in Albania

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania.

Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal before it hosts Russian economic forum

Ukrainian long-range drones have struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, setting it ablaze, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The attack comes as the Russian city hosts a major event for attracting foreign capital. The drones flew over 1,000 kilometers to hit the terminal, a day after...

Indonesia arrests former nutrition agency head and officials in corruption probe

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s recently dismissed head of the National Nutrition Agency was arrested on Wednesday on corruption charges related to a multi-billion-dollar free-meals program.

Oil prices climb back toward $100, and the record-breaking rally for US stocks stalls

Oil prices are rising following the latest threats to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and U.S. stocks are stalling near their records. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Wednesday from its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 339 points, and the Nasdaq composite dipped 0.3%. Oil prices rose close ...

European Union launches tech sovereignty initiative to boost chips, cloud and AI at home

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders, worried about the continent relying too heavily on American companies for AI and cloud computing services and Asia for microchips, are pushing back.

How can I illustrate our financial position to a spouse who shows little interest?

Reader question: My spouse has little interest in our financial position. As we age, this concerns me. I try to share some basic information (income, spending, account balances, debt, and so on) each month but rarely get a response. I think graphs or charts might be of more interest to her than a...

US says it plans extra tariffs of 10% or more for most trading partners after forced labor probe

The Trump administration is proposing double-digit tariffs on products from dozens of major U.S. trading partners after an investigation into imports of goods allegedly made with forced labor. Under the proposal released in Washington late Tuesday, 16 economies — including Canada, Mexico, the Eur.

George Santos reported to prosecutors over suspicious Kalshi trades, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — A prediction market reported former U.S. Rep. George Santos to federal prosecutors after he boasted he'd be going to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, then bet against his own attendance, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Report: Disruption of Mideast energy supplies into next year would slam global economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Prolonged disruption of energy supplies from the Middle East due to the Iran war would deal a severe blow to the global economy, sending some countries into recession and spreading inflation and higher unemployment, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developme.

New York City's 9/11 memorial fundraises to educate youth with $25 million match from Mike Bloomberg

NEW YORK (AP) — The 9/11 Memorial and Museum has launched a $75 million fundraising campaign as the nonprofit tries to educate the millions of U.S. youth who don't remember the terror attacks on their upcoming 25th anniversary.

Macy's raises annual outlook after the fourth straight quarter of sales gains

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's reported its fourth consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains as the department store said an overhaul of its merchandise and better customer service is resonating with customers.

Electric SUV showdown: Edmunds compares the revamped Toyota bZ to the Tesla Model Y

Once you’ve decided to buy an electric vehicle, the exciting but tricky part is choosing which one to get. For a growing number of car shoppers, an electric SUV makes the most sense for everyday life. The latest models have enough range to handle everyday driving and the occasional trek out of to.

Videos showing groups of people entering NYC sewers at night baffle residents and investigators

NEW YORK (AP) — Mole people? Crocodile catchers? Mario brothers? A series of bizarre sightings of people popping in and out of New York City’s vast subterranean sewer system has the city wondering what exactly is going on, with police now probing the underground mystery.

UK orders Google to allow publishers to opt out of AI scraping for search summaries

LONDON (AP) — Google must allow news sites to opt out of having their online content scraped to feed AI overviews and other artificial intelligence services and features for British users, regulators said Wednesday.

Why top leaders kill their own ideas — and build stronger teams because of it

Donald Thompson argues that resilient leaders embrace constructive feedback, even when it's uncomfortable, and use it as an opportunity to improve ideas, strategies and outcomes.

Scott Pelley fired from '60 Minutes,' deepening turmoil at CBS News

CBS News has fired longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley. It came a day after he reportedly said Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss was “murdering the show” and accused its new producer of having “slender qualifications” for the job. The move deepened the turmoil at the nation’s mos

As Congo grapples with Ebola, volunteers cook meals to support patients

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — For patients in an Ebola outbreak with no approved medicine or vaccine, there is little comfort. But Arlette Basekawike, a volunteer for the U.N. food agency, is doing her best.

Wall Street's record-breaking rally slows as Alphabet drags on the market

Wall Street's record-breaking rally is slowing following a drop for Alphabet, one of Wall Street’s most influential stocks. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Tuesday, a day after setting its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 121 points, and the Nasdaq composite was flat. Analys.

Iran stops talking to mediators over Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian reports say

Iran stopped communicating with mediators after Israel threatened to bomb Beirut as it continues fighting the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. That's according to two semiofficial Iranian news agencies. The reports by the Fars and Tasnim news agencies, both believed to be close to Iran’s paramilitary .

Cambodia initiates action with UN agency to force conciliation of maritime dispute with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia's government has filed notice under a U.N. agreement on maritime law for compulsory conciliation of a sea border dispute with neighboring Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Tuesday.

Israel's weapons exports reach a record high with sales doubling in the past 5 years

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli weapons exports reached a record high of more than $19 billion last year, a 30% increase from 2024, Israel's Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Berkshire Hathaway buys homebuilder Taylor Morrison and then invests $10B in Alphabet under new CEO

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway 's new CEO Greg Abel started off the week with a $6.8 billion acquisition of homebuilder Taylor Morrison and then followed that up Monday with a $10 billion stock investment in Google's parent company.

Rescuers dig for bodies after a massive mining explosives blast in Myanmar kills at least 43

More than a dozen rescue and charity groups are using excavation machinery to recover bodies following a massive blast from stored mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar. The explosion occurred Sunday in Kaungtup village in Shan State, near the Chinese border. A new tally issued by the Ta’ang .

Tom Snyder: When AI helps create value, what does the platform get to learn from that process?

As AI platforms become embedded in how startups build products, they gain visibility into workflows, customer needs and emerging markets.

Melinda French Gates, ex-wife of Bill Gates, to join Seattle Kraken as minority investor

SEATTLE (AP) — Melinda French Gates, a billionaire philanthropist and businesswoman, will join the Seattle Kraken as a minority investor, pending NHL approval.

Pentagon bars journalists from its press office, saying it has become a 'classified space'

NEW YORK (AP) — In another of a series of moves restricting media access at the Pentagon, the Defense Department has declared that its press office is now a classified space inaccessible to journalists.

Warriors star Curry lands long-term shoe and apparel deal with Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry has a new long-term shoe and apparel deal with Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning.

Scott Pelley of '60 Minutes' accuses CBS News head Bari Weiss of 'murdering' the show, report says

NEW YORK (AP) — In a remarkable sign of the turmoil at CBS’s top-rated “60 Minutes,” correspondent Scott Pelley said CBS News head Bari Weiss was “murdering the show” and accused its new producer of having “slender qualifications” for the job, according to reports.

Anthropic races toward a Wall Street debut with a confidential SEC filing

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic is moving toward going public on Wall Street, the latest chapter in its meteoric rise from a little-known research laboratory to one of the leading AI companies valued at $965 billion.

More Mandelson files released in UK bring bad news for Starmer, but many questions remain unanswered

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces more embarrassment with the release of files about former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson. The documents were published Monday. They run to more than 1,500 pages and include emails and texts. A handwritten note from Mandelson pledged that th...

Last call? States look to extend bar and restaurant hours during the World Cup

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — World Cup fans in a growing number of U.S. cities won't have an issue finding a well-poured pint to go with their late-night match.

New Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel makes first deal since taking over from Warren Buffett

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel hinted that he may depart from Warren Buffett's longtime hands-off operating model at the conglomerate as he announced a $6.8 billion acquisition of homebuilder Taylor Morrison.

Oil prices rise, but not by enough to drag Wall Street far off its records

Oil prices are rising following the latest fighting to threaten the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, but Wall Street isn’t very worried, and U.S. stocks are hanging around their records. The S&P 500 added 0.1% Monday to its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 123 points, and the Nasdaq com.

Egypt unveils a striking trove of ancient artifacts as the country tries to boost tourism industry

CAIRO (AP) — Archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient artifacts in Egypt including Pharaonic funerary furniture, remains of a Roman basilica and a marble head of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Young and unemployed? Remote work, not AI, may be the problem, study finds

The rise of remote work since the pandemic has made businesses more reluctant to hire young, inexperienced workers and is the key driver of higher unemployment rates for recent college graduates, a study released Monday has found. The study concludes that businesses are reluctant to hire new coll...

Nvidia bets on AI personal computers with new 'superchip' powering Windows laptops

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Nvidia on Monday unveiled new powerful chips that would bring advanced artificial intelligence functions into laptops and desktop computers, with the new personal computer models from brands including Microsoft and Dell set to roll out later this year.

African EV firm Spiro raises $215 million for electric mobility expansion

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — African electric vehicle firm Spiro has raised $215 million in equity financing to expand its battery-swapping and electric mobility infrastructure across Africa, the company said Monday.

From her bookstore in Nashville, Ann Patchett drives the literary conversation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When she isn't working on a novel, Ann Patchett is often thinking of what she can do for others: maybe coming up with a blurb for Douglas Stuart, or recording a video birthday message for fellow author-bookseller Emma Straub, or beginning an interview with a plug for anoth.

A guide to the bookstores owned by your favorite authors

NEW YORK (AP) — When Ann Patchett opened Parnassus Books in 2011, two major bookstores in Nashville had closed and physical bookstores in general seemed endangered as Amazon's share of the market kept growing. Amazon remains the dominant force, but physical, brick-and-mortar stores have rebounded.

Nvidia bets on AI personal computers with new chip powering Windows laptops

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Nvidia unveiled Monday new powerful chips that would bring advanced artificial intelligence functions into laptops and desktop computers, with the new personal computer models from brands including Microsoft and Dell set to roll out later this year.

Japan, South Korea stocks hit more records, as oil gains on Iran war ending fragility

Oil prices have gained more than 3%, and stock markets in Japan and South Korea have hit fresh record highs on enthusiasm over the artificial intelligence boom. World shares have mostly advanced, despite growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran and as investors await a decision on the Iran war ...