National Business - The Morning Sun

Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury gestures during Airbus' Annual Press Conference, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 in Toulouse, southwestern France. Airbus is urging stepped-up European cooperation to ensure the continent's security and future access to space, after a year that saw the planemaker suffer fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine and the crash of a multibillion-euro European rocket. The company on Thursday reported a record overall 2022 profit of 4.25 billion euros, (AP Photo/Frederic Scheiber)

Airbus sees profit boost, but defense and space challenges

Airbus is urging stepped-up European cooperation to ensure the continent’s security and future access to space. The France-based plane maker suffered fallout last year from Russia’s war in … more

2/16/23

FILE - Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos, Nigeria, on Jan. 23, 2023. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari says the country’s redesigned currency would bolster the upcoming presidential election. Also Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, he appealed for an end to violent protests over a resulting cash shortage that has led to daylong lines at banks, business closures and people unable to pay for basic needs. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Nigerian leader defends currency swap as pain, protests grow

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari says the country’s redesigned currency would bolster the upcoming presidential election. Also Thursday, he appealed for an end to violent protests over a … more

By CHINEDU ASADU | 2/16/23

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the National Governors Association in the East Room, Feb. 10, 2023, in Washington. The White House says Biden will take new steps to address racial inequality throughout the federal government.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Biden taking new steps to address racial inequality in gov't

The White House says President Joe Biden is taking new steps to address racial inequality throughout the federal government. Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office in January 2021 … more

By JOSH BOAK and DARLENE SUPERVILLE | 2/16/23

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the under-construction Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin province, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. Devastating earthquakes toppled buildings across northern Syria and neighboring Turkey but the large nuclear power station didn't sustain any damage. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Turkey quake revives debate over nuclear plant being built

A devastating earthquake that toppled buildings across parts of Turkey and neighboring Syria has revived a longstanding debate locally and in neighboring Cyprus about a large nuclear power station … more

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS and JENNIFER McDERMOTT | 2/16/23

People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Tokyo. Asian shares edged higher Thursday, cheered by a stronger than expected reading on U.S. retail sales that set off a rally on Wall Street. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Asian shares jump, boosted by a strong reading on US retail

Asian shares have advanced, cheered on by a stronger reading than expected on U.S. retail sales that set off a Wall Street rally. A report showed U.S. shoppers opened their wallets at stores last … more

By YURI KAGEYAMA | 2/16/23

FILE - The Ford F-150 Lightning displayed at the Philadelphia Auto Show, Jan. 27, 2023, in Philadelphia. Ford Motor Co. says it has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the automaker said in a statement it has no reason to believe electric pickups already in use by customers are affected by the battery issue.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Ford stops production of electric F-150 after battery fire

Ford Motor Co. says it has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check. Production at Ford’s … more

2/15/23

Fans do the tomahawk chop during the Kansas City Chiefs' victory celebration and parade in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, following the Chiefs' win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday in the NFL Super Bowl 57 football game. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Native Americans grapple with Chiefs Super Bowl celebrations

Native Americans are bracing for what they say are racist traditions as the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs embarked Wednesday on a victory lap with a hometown parade. The team won their … more

By TERRY TANG and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 2/15/23

Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on what Republicans say is the politicization of the FBI and Justice Department and attacks on American civil liberties, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

GOP subpoenas tech CEOs as part of probe into censorship

Subpoenas have been sent to the chief executives of the five largest tech companies as congressional Republicans moved to investigate what they assert is widespread corporate censorship of … more

By FARNOUSH AMIRI | 2/15/23

FILE - Robert Duvall attends the premiere for "Widows" on day 3 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Toronto. Duvall was one of more than 100 speakers at a northern Virginia town's council meeting opposing a proposed $550 million data center from Amazon. The Town of Warrenton voted 4-3 early Wednesday morning, Feb. 15, 2023, to approve a special use permit for Amazon, despite Duvall's opposition. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Town can't refuse Amazon offer despite Duvall opposition

Actor Robert Duvall was one of more than 100 speakers at a northern Virginia town’s council meeting opposing a proposed $550 million data center from Amazon. The Town of Warrenton voted 4-3 early … more

By MATTHEW BARAKAT | 2/15/23

Samuel Bankman-Fried departs Manhattan federal court in New York, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

FTX founder's bail signatories include 2 family friends

Two Stanford University academics signed on to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's $250 million bail package, enabling him to live with his parents while awaiting trial on fraud charges. Manhattan … more

By LARRY NEUMEISTER | 2/15/23

FTX bankruptcy judge denies request for independent examiner

The judge presiding over the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency exchange FTX has denied a request by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee to appoint an independent examiner in the case. The trustee serves as a … more

By RANDALL CHASE | 2/15/23

This image released by McDonald’s shows the McPlant plant-based burger and and the new plant-based McPlant Nuggets. The nuggets will be available along with the burger at McDonald’s restaurants in Germany starting Feb. 22. (McDonald’s via AP)

Fowl-free: McDonald's debuts plant-based McNuggets

McDonald’s McNuggets are going fowl-free. The Chicago-based fast food giant will introduce its first plant-based McNuggets next week. Germany is the first market to get them. The nuggets are made … more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN | 2/15/23

FILE - Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the Starbucks annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. Schutz has declined a request to appear before a Senate committee seeking to question him about the coffee chain's response to an ongoing unionization campaign at the the company's U.S. stores. In a letter to the committee Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, Starbucks said Schultz will be transitioning out of his interim CEO role soon and another executive should testify instead. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Starbucks' Schultz declines to appear before Senate panel

Starbucks’ interim CEO Howard Schutz has declined a request to appear before a Senate committee seeking to question him about the coffee chain’s response to an ongoing unionization campaign at … more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN | 2/15/23

FILE - An Aeromar turbojet is symbolically baptized during the inauguration of a new terminal at the international airport that serves Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007. Aeromar announced Wednesday, February 15, 2023, that it is closing down due to financial problems. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

Hit by pandemic, small Mexican airline Aeromar shuts down

The small Mexican airline Aeromar has announced it is closing down due to financial problems. The regional carrier operated 21 routes in Mexico and flew to McAllen and Laredo in Texas and Havana, … more

2/15/23

FILE - World Bank Group President David Malpass attends a news conference during the 2022 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, Oct. 13, 2022, in Washington. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, it was announced that Malpass is stepping down as president of the World Bank, nearly four years after former President Donald Trump nominated him to run the 189-nation agency. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Trump pick Malpass stepping down as head of the World Bank

David Malpass is stepping down as president of the World Bank, four years after former President Donald Trump picked him to run the 189-nation agency. The anti-poverty lender said Wednesday that … more

2/15/23

CBO projects higher unemployment, slow exit from inflation

The Congressional Budget Office says it expects the U.S. economy to stagnate this year. It projects that the unemployment rate will jump to 5.1% — a bleak outlook that was paired with a 10-year … more

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and JOSH BOAK | 2/15/23

People rally in support of renewable energy policies, such as strengthening a renewable energy fund, across from the Alaska Capitol on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. Some environmentalists are skeptical of legislation proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that aims to capitalize on carbon storage and carbon markets. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska carbon plan: Boost state coffers without cutting oil

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is calling for the state to build off its oil and gas expertise to tap into the developing industry of carbon storage as a way to generate new revenue without curtailing the … more

By BECKY BOHRER | 2/15/23

FILE - Attendees practice administering Narcan during an overdose education and Narcan training class at the Onala Recovery Center on the South Shore of Pittsburgh on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. U.S. health advisers are weighing whether the overdose-reversal drug, Narcan, should be made available as an over-the-counter medication to help fight the national opioid crisis. A panel of experts to the Food and Drug Administration will vote on the switch late Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 following hours of presentations and discussions on whether untrained users can follow the instructions to use the antidote in emergency situations. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)

FDA panel weighs moving opioid antidote over the counter

U.S. health advisers are weighing whether the overdose-reversal drug naloxone should be made available as an over-the-counter medication. It's the latest government proposal to increase use of the … more

By MATTHEW PERRONE | 2/15/23

FILE - Workers at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tenn., walk by a Nissan Altima sedan on May 15, 2012. Fewer than 100 employees out of the thousands who work at Nissan's auto assembly plant in Tennessee can hold a vote on whether to form a small union, according to a ruling Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, by the federal labor board. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)

Mini-union vote at Nissan Tennessee plant set for March 16

Fewer than 100 employees out of the thousands who work at Nissan’s auto assembly plant in Tennessee will get to vote on March 16 on whether to form a small union. The National Labor Relations Board … more

By JONATHAN MATTISE | 2/15/23

FILE - Acting Federal Aviation Administrator Billy Nolen stands among flight attendants during a news conference to announce longer rest times for airline flight attendants between shifts at Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Nolen said Wednesday, Feb/ 15. 2023, he has formed a team to review efforts to keep air travel safe. Nolen also says FAA is making changes to avoid another breakdown in a safety-alert system, like the one that briefly halted all flights last month. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

FAA head defends safety of US air travel after close calls

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration is defending the safety of air travel as he answers questions about recent close calls between planes. Acting FAA administrator Billy Nolen said … more

By DAVID KOENIG | 2/15/23