AP National Business

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar has announced it will resume issuing visas for visitors in an effort to help its moribund tourism industry, devastated by the coronavirus pandemic and violent political unrest. Starting on Sunday, tourist “e-Visas” will be provided online in a move also intended to harmonize tourism with neighboring countries. Visitors need a certificate

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for jobless aid ticked up slightly last week but the total number of Americans collecting benefits remained at its lowest level in more than five decades. Applications for unemployment benefits rose by 1,000 to 203,000 for the week ending May 7,

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. producer prices soared 11% in April from a year earlier, a hefty gain that indicates high inflation will remain a burden for consumers and businesses in the months ahead. The Labor Department said Thursday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it

By SYLVIA HUI Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s foreign secretary warned the European Union on Thursday that the U.K. will have “no choice but to act” to revoke parts of a Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland if the EU does not show flexibility. Post-Brexit arrangements for border and customs checks in Northern Ireland have

The highest-ranking Russian official to go to prison in nearly two decades has been released after serving more than half of an eight-year sentence for bribery. A court granted former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev parole last month. Russian state television showed images of what it said was a convoy of cars taking him away

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece says it’s extending a bilateral military agreement with the United States for five years. Officials from Greece’s center-right government argued that enhanced alliances within NATO will help stabilize the region rattled by Russia’s war in Ukraine and tension in the eastern Mediterranean. The agreement announced Thursday needs to be ratified

By RANDA KRISS of NerdWallet Compared with larger companies, many small businesses have fewer resources to dedicate to cybersecurity, leaving them vulnerable to the ever-evolving tactics of cybercriminals. To protect themselves from cyberthreats, business owners should evaluate their online systems to understand where their data lives and what information needs to be kept safe. Small

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — The name “FIFA” can bring to mind images of the World Cup and soccer’s greatest players. Pele, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi among them. The acronym for the sport’s governing body may also remind some of shameless bribery and corruption. But for many it’s the

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — Finland appears on the cusp of joining NATO. Sweden could follow suit. By year’s end, they could stand among the alliance’s ranks. Russia’s war in Ukraine has provoked a public about face on membership in the two Nordic countries. They are already NATO’s closest partners, but should

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Inflation in Sweden increased last month to its highest level since 1991. Official figures from Statistics Sweden released Thursday said the consumer price index rose 6.4% in April from a year ago and was up from 6.1% in March. The agency says food prices increased, with meat and vegetables being “the

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Japanese technology company SoftBank Group has dropped into losses as the value of its investments declines. It reported red ink totaling 1.7 trillion yen, or $13 billion, for the fiscal year through March, a reversal from a 4.9 trillion yen profit the year before. Although the

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press WEISSENHAUS, Germany (AP) — Top diplomats from the Group of Seven wealthy nations have gathered in northern Germany for a three-day meeting centered on Russia’s war against Ukraine and the wider impact it is having around the world. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the conflict already had become a

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — A new rail line that builders say will transform travel in London is set to open. It’s three-and-a-half years late and 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) over budget. The Elizabeth Line opens on May 24 and will provide a speedy new link between Heathrow Airport west of

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economy grew at the slowest pace in a year during the first quarter as retailers and manufacturers were hurt by supply disruptions and higher prices. That’s raising concerns that the U.K. may be headed for a recession. The Office for National Statistics says gross domestic product,

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automaker Nissan has returned to profitability for the first time in three fiscal years, despite challenges such as supply shortages caused by the pandemic and soaring costs.  Nissan reported a profit of 215.5 billion yen, or $1.7 billion, for the fiscal year through March, a

By VANESSA GERA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — In the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, a protest movement was born in Poland urging people to boycott companies that have chosen to keep operating in Russia. The key target is the home improvement giant Leroy Merlin, a popular French retailer. Protests have been held across

By ALI ZERDIN Associated Press LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Officials say an explosion and fire at a chemical plant in southeast Slovenia has left five people missing and feared dead. Emergency officials said another two people were hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns after the blast, which was reported around 8.30 a.m. (0630GMT) Thursday

By JARI TANNER Associated Press HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s leaders say they’re in favor of applying for NATO membership “without delay.” The annoucement by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday means that Finland is all but certain to join the Western military alliance. The decision of the Finnish leaders paves the

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer Asian shares have bounced back after losses earlier in the week, shrugging off the latest data showing U.S. wholesale prices soared 11% in April from a year earlier. Oil prices and U.S. futures also were higher. Investors are puzzling over what’s next with inflation and the U.S. central bank’s

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — China’s leaders are struggling to reverse a deepening economic slump without giving up a “zero-COVID” strategy that shut down Shanghai and other cities. That adds to challenges for President Xi Jinping in a year when he is expected to try to extend his time in power.

By BRIAN SLODYSKO and FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Cryptocurrency tycoons are emerging as new power players in American politics. They’re pouring millions of dollars into primary elections as they try to gain influence over lawmakers and other government officials. It’s those lawmakers and officials who’ll write laws or craft regulations overseeing the

By OLEKSANDR STASHEVSKYI Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Finland’s leaders have come out in favor of applying to join NATO, and Sweden could do the same within days. That would amount to a historic realignment on the continent 2 1/2 months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese passenger jet has veered off the runway during takeoff and caught fire, sending black smoke billowing into the air and injuring more than 30 people. The Tibet Airlines flight with 122 people on board was heading from the southwestern city of Chongqing to Nyingchi in China’s Tibet region on Thursday.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Joyous bedlam erupted at an employee appreciation and awards buffet at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas when the resort chief executive announced that all 5,400 people who work there will receive a $5,000 bonus. Nine-year cafeteria cook Edgar Rives declared it amazing and a big surprise as he hand-slapped and hugged

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A jury in Texas has cleared American Airlines of responsibility for an alleged sexual assault by a celebrity chef it hired against one of its flight attendants. In the verdict Wednesday, jurors in the civil lawsuit concluded that an assault occurred but that Fort Worth, Texas-based American was not at