Chinese businesses view tariff pause with caution and uncertainty

BANGKOK (AP) — While U.S. President Donald Trump has talked of victory after reaching a weekend deal with China to reduce the sky-high tariffs levied on each others’ goods, businesses in China are reacting to the temporary deal with a cautious wait and see approach. The U.S. and China have cut the tariffs levied on each other in April, with the U.S. cutting the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. Businesses like one kitchen utensil factory were eager to get back to work, going back into production for American clients. “But it is still possible the tariff policies will change again, resulting in no orders from our American clients,” said one sales manager.

Newark problems and recent crashes put focus on air traffic controller shortage and aging equipment

The recent chronic delays and cancellations at New Jersey’s largest airport have highlighted the shortage of air traffic controllers and the aging equipment they use, which President Donald Trump's administration wants to replace. The Federal Aviation Administration is working on a short-term fix to the problems at the Newark airport that includes technical repairs and cutting flights while dealing with a shortage of controllers. But even before those problems, aviation was already in the spotlight ever since the deadly midair collision in January. That investigation continues while the U.S. Department of Transportation tries to make progress on the long-standing issues of not having enough air traffic controllers and relying on outdated equipment.

Trump wants a nuclear deal with Iran, but says Tehran must end its support of proxy groups

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — President Donald Trump says he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program, but he say Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the Mideast as part of any potential agreement. Trump is the midst of a three-country visit to the region. On Wednesday, he discussed Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program in one-on-one talks with Qatar’s emir. The American president expressed measured confidence that the U.S. effort with Tehran would “work out one way or another.” In earlier comments in Saudi Arabia, Trump made clear he expected Tehran to end its role as the chief financial backer of the militant groups.

House Republicans pull an all-nighter on Trump's tax bill. There's more work to do

WASHINGTON (AP) — There were cheers when Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on the GOP tax breaks bill after a round-the-clock session that pushed President Donald Trump’s package past overwhelming Democratic opposition. But there's still more work to do. Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to resolve outstanding problems with the bill. Opposition is mounting from various corners of Johnson's GOP majority. That includes conservatives who want steeper cuts to Medicaid, as well as lawmakers from New York, New Jersey and California who want a bigger state-and-local tax deduction. Democrats say the package would help the wealthy at the expense of health care, food aid and other programs.

Stocks waver on Wall Street and hold on to most of the gains they made earlier in the week

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are wavering on Wall Street and holding on to most of the gains they made earlier in the week after the U.S. and China declared a temporary cease-fire in their trade war. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged Wednesday afternoon. The index erased the remainder of its losses for 2025 a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 86 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.6%. American Eagle Outfitters slipped after becoming the latest company to pull its financial forecasts. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher.

Boeing, trying to emerge from one of company's most difficult eras, is having a pretty good week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Boeing has secured a pair of major orders in the Middle East during a visit to the region by President Donald Trump. The American aerospace manufacturer confirmed a $96 billion order from Qatar Wednesday, one day after announcing an order from a company in Saudi Arabia for 20 737-8 jets and options for 10 additional aircraft. The Qatar deal, which includes Boeing’s 787 and 777X jets, is the biggest order for 787s and wide body jets in Boeing’s history. It has been a particularly good week for Boeing. According to media reports, China lifted a ban on its airlines taking deliveries of Boeing planes earlier this week as part of Monday’s trade truce with the U.S.

EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

The Environmental Protection Agency says it will roll back limits on several types of what are known as forever chemicals in drinking water. The agency, however, will keep limits on the two most common types, called PFOA and PFOS, although it will offer a two-year deadline extension for utilities to comply. They now have until 2031. The agency says the changes will help protect Americans while giving water systems common sense flexibility. Environmental groups say the development shows the agency is abandoning common sense clean water rules.

Patricia Clarkson on playing her icon Lilly Ledbetter and the political moment greeting the movie

NEW YORK (AP) — Patricia Clarkson stars in the movie “Lilly,” a biopic about former Alabama factory worker Lilly Ledbetter who became an equal pay icon. The film, directed by Rachel Feldman, climaxes at the dawn of the Obama era with the passage of the 2009 the landmark Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Today, Ledbetter's biggest champions are out of power, and at least one of them is a target of President Donald Trump's shake-up of civil rights institutions. In an interview with The Associated Press, Clarkson says the current political moment is a good time to draw audiences to Ledbetter’s story.

Trump administration rescinds curbs on AI chip exports to foreign markets

NEW YORK (AP) — Responding to complaints from the tech industry and other countries, the U.S. Department of Commerce has rescinded a Biden-era rule due to take effect Thursday that placed limits on the number of artificial intelligence chips that could be exported to certain international markets without federal approval. The Biden rule’s division of more than 100 affected countries into different tiers of export restrictions drew strong opposition from those countries, as well as U.S. chipmakers like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices that argued the restrictions could actually push some countries to turn to China instead of the U.S. for their AI technology.

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas at 75 U.S. stores have gone on strike since Sunday, protesting the coffee giant’s new dress code. Starbucks announced last month that it was setting new limits on what baristas can wear under their green aprons. Starting Monday, employees were required to wear a solid black shirt and khaki, black or blue denim bottoms. Starbucks said the new dress code will make its green aprons stand out. But Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents workers at 570 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores, said the dress code should be subject to bargaining.