National Business - The Morning Sun

Workers wait for transport outside a construction site in Beijing, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. China's Finance Ministry has denounced a report by Fitch Ratings that kept its sovereign debt rated at A+ but downgraded its outlook to negative, saying in a statement that China's deficit is at a moderate and reasonable level and risks are under control. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

China's economy grew 5.3% in first quarter, beating expectations

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China’s economy beat expectations in the first quarter of the year with help from policies and an increase in demand. The world’s second-largest economy expanded at a 5.3% annual pace in … more

4/15/24

FILE - The New York Capitol is seen, Dec. 14, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, on Monday, April 15, 2024, announced the framework of a $237 billion budget that includes broad plans to to drive new housing construction, address the influx of migrants and crack down on illegal marijuana shops. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

Hochul announces budget outline as lawmakers continue to hash out details

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the framework of a $237 billion budget that includes broad plans to drive new housing construction, address the influx of migrants and crack down on illegal … more

By MAYSOON KHAN and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE | 4/15/24

This photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance Mars rover collecting a sample from a rock called "Bunsen Peak" using a coring bit on the end of its robotic arm on March 11, 2024. NASA has put the effort to bring the samples to Earth on hold until there is a faster, cheaper way. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU via AP)

NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth

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NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring rock samples from Mars to Earth. In the meantime, the space agency says the effort is on hold. Reviews put the total cost of the project at $11 billion, … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 4/15/24

FILE - Boeing employees walk the new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner down towards the delivery ramp area at the company's facility after conducting its first test flight at Charleston International Airport, Friday, March 31, 2017, in North Charleston, S.C. A Senate subcommittee has opened an investigation into the safety of Boeing jetliners, intensifying safety concerns about the company’s aircraft. The panel has summoned Boeing's CEO, Dave Calhoun, to a hearing next week where a company engineer, Sam Salehpour, is expected to detail safety concerns about the manufacture and assembly of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. (AP Photo/Mic Smith, File)

Boeing pushes back on whistleblower's allegations and details how airframes are put together

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Boeing is defending the integrity of the fuselages on two of its largest planes. Boeing engineering executives explained Monday the process for assembling fuselage panels on the 787 Dreamliner. The … more

By DAVID KOENIG | 4/15/24

The pilots union at American Airlines says it's seeing more safety and maintenance issues

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The pilots union at American Airlines says there's been a significant spike in safety and maintenance issues at the airline. The union told its members over the weekend that American has increased … more

4/15/24

A group of barges sit pinned against the Emsworth lock and dam in Pittsburgh, on Saturday, April 13, 2024. More than two dozen river barges broke loose from their moorings and floated down the Ohio River, damaging a marina and striking a bridge. (WTAE via AP)

Ohio River near Pittsburgh is closed as crews search for missing barge, one of 26 that broke loose

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A stretch of the Ohio River near Pittsburgh remains closed to maritime traffic as crews equipped with sonar look for a barge believed to have sunk over the weekend. The barge is one of more than two … more

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM | 4/15/24

FILE - An exam room is seen inside Planned Parenthood on March 10, 2023, in Fairview Heights, Ill. Workers are entitled to workplace accommodations for abortions and some pregnancy-related conditions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, according to federal regulations published Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

New rules for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act includes divisive accommodations for abortion

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Workers are entitled to workplace accommodations for abortions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, according to finalized federal regulations published Monday. The regulations provide guidance … more

By CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON | 4/15/24

A general view of the Renaissance Center, headquarters for General Motors, is shown along the Detroit skyline from the Detroit River, Tuesday, May 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AP Source: General Motors and Bedrock real estate plan to redevelop GM Detroit headquarters towers

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General Motors and real estate firm Bedrock will jointly study how to redevelop the automaker’s huge headquarters tower complex in downtown Detroit, a person briefed on the plans said. GM CEO Mary … more

By TOM KRISHER | 4/15/24

FILE - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Phones displayed in Seoul, South Korea, July 26, 2023. Global smartphone shipments rose nearly 8% in the first quarter, according to preliminary data from International Data Corp. It's the third straight quarter of shipment growth and marks the return of Samsung to No. 1. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, file)

Global smartphone shipments climb nearly 8% in 1st quarter as Samsung retakes the lead

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Global smartphone shipments rose nearly 8% in the first quarter, according to preliminary data from International Data Corp. It’s the third straight quarter of shipment growth and marks the return … more

4/15/24

Stands are under construction on the Champ-de-Mars with the Eiffel Tower, Monday, April 15, 2024 in Paris. The Champ-de-Mars will host the Beach Volleyball and Blind Football at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Le Defense business district is seen in background. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Paris prepares for 100-day countdown to the Olympics. It wants to rekindle love for the Games

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April 17 marks the 100 days countdown to the Paris Olympics ambitious opening ceremony. The first Games in a century in France's capital will be judged not only for the sporting spectacle. Another … more

By JOHN LEICESTER | 4/15/24

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. in Jiulongpo District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Sunday, April 14, 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in China on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Huang Wei/Xinhua via AP)

Germany's Scholz calls for fair competition and warns against dumping during China visit

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for fair competition in trade relations with China while warning about dumping and overproduction while speaking to students in Shanghai on Monday. Scholz is … more

4/15/24

A can of Celsius, a fitness drink that is supposed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat, is shown on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in New York. The frenzy of functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just taste good or hydrate - has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

What does science say about the ingredients in functional beverages?

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Drinks promoted as offering mental or physical benefits beyond hydration are growing in popularity around the world. Hundreds of companies have jumped into the so-called functional beverages market, … more

By The Associated Press. | 4/15/24

A Remedy Organics plant-based shake with prebiotics, lion's mane, and other ingredients, is shown on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in New York. The frenzy of functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just taste good or hydrate - has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

With 'functional' beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than taste good

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The global market has exploded for drinks that promise to do more than just taste good. So much so that grocery store beverage aisles are starting to look more like pharmacies. There are sodas made … more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN and LOUISE DIXON | 4/15/24

FILE - The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building is seen in Washington, on March 22, 2013. The IRS is promoting the improvements its made to its customer service since its received tens of billions in new funds through Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act. Agency leadership is trying to bring attention to what's been done to repair the agency's image as an outdated and maligned tax collector. Monday, April 15, 2024, is the last day to submit tax returns or to file an extension. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The IRS is quicker to answer the phone on this Tax Day

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Today is Tax Day and the IRS is promoting the customer service improvements the agency rolled out since receiving tens of billions in new funding dollars through Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. … more

By FATIMA HUSSEIN | 4/15/24

The White House is seen as dusk falls, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas

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The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding for Samsung Electronics to develop a computer chip manufacturing and research cluster in Texas. The … more

By JOSH BOAK | 4/15/24

FILE - A sign outside the Internal Revenue Service building is seen, May 4, 2021, in Washington. Tax Day reveals a major split in how Joe Biden and Donald Trump would govern: The presidential candidates have conflicting ideas about how much to reveal about their own finances and the best ways to boost the economy through tax policy. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Tax Day reveals a major split in how Joe Biden and Donald Trump would govern

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Tax Day reveals a major split in how Joe Biden and Donald Trump would govern: The presidential candidates have conflicting ideas about how much to reveal about their own finances and the best ways to … more

By JOSH BOAK and JILL COLVIN | 4/15/24

This image released by A24 shows Kirsten Dunst in a scene from "Civil War." (Murray Close/A24 via AP)

Divisive? Not for moviegoers. ‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office.

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Alex Garland’s provocative “Civil War” didn’t only ignite the discourse. The film also inspired audiences to go to the cinemas this weekend where it earned $25.7 million in ticket sales in … more

By LINDSEY BAHR | 4/14/24

Fashion model Alexsandrah poses with a computer showing an AI generated image of her, in London, Friday, March 29, 2024. The use of computer-generated supermodels has complicated implications for diversity. Although AI modeling agencies -- some of them Black-owned -- can render models of all races, genders and sizes at the click of a finger, real models of color who have historically faced higher barriers to entry may be put out of work. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

AI-generated fashion models could bring more diversity to the industry - or leave it with less

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AI fashion modeling is on the rise but its use has complicated implications for diversity. AI models significantly reduce a company’s labor costs. And AI modeling agencies can render fashion models … more

By CLAIRE SAVAGE | 4/14/24

A vehicle at left drives down Rogue River Highway as light shines on the area Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Can homeless people be fined for sleeping outside? A rural Oregon city asks the US Supreme Court

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The rural city of Grants Pass in southern Oregon has become the unlikely face of the nation’s homelessness crisis as its case over anti-camping laws goes to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case has … more

By CLAIRE RUSH | 4/14/24

Momofuku backs down from defending its 'chile crunch' trademark after outcry by small businesses

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Momofuku, a food and restaurant brand started by chef David Chang, says it won’t defend its trademark on the name “chile crunch” after it sparked an outcry by sending cease-and-desist letters … more

By MAE ANDERSON | 4/13/24