Australia launches record $1.4B lawsuit against 3M over 'forever chemicals' at defense bases

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia is suing the U.S. company 3M for over $1.4 billion due to contamination from “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam at defense bases. The government announced the lawsuit on Thursday, focusing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at 28 sites. These "forever chemicals" don't break down naturally. Australia filed the suit in the Federal Court of Australia. 3M plans to contest the claim, stating it stopped selling the foam in Australia two decades ago but that the Defense Department continued using it longer. The Australian government seeks damages for past and future expenses related to managing the contamination.

Some brands say their jeans are eco-friendly. Here's how to find a pair that's actually sustainable

NEW YORK (AP) — Your jeans have probably passed through cotton farms, dye houses and wash facilities before reaching your closet. The denim may have never been worn but it's stonewashed, sanded, chemically faded or laser-treated to create a worn-in look. Those processes can require significant amounts of water, energy and chemicals. It's part of the reason denim production has become a growing target for sustainability efforts across the fashion industry, which is among the world’s biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. Brands are increasingly marketing jeans as “sustainable,” but figuring out if that's true is far more complicated.

About 8% of the country lacked health insurance in 2025, new data shows. That could rise next year

NEW YORK (AP) — The proportion of Americans without health insurance held steady at around 8% of the population in 2025, according to new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national survey results published Thursday show the uninsured rate has stayed down from where it was a few years ago. However, changes from the Trump administration could increase this rate in the years ahead. Massive changes to Medicaid and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies may lead to more uninsured individuals. The survey also indicates a possible increase in the percentage of insured Hispanic Americans, which could be due in part to immigration changes.

France’s parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code, with tears and history in the chamber

PARIS (AP) — French lawmakers have voted to repeal a 17th-century law that governed enslaved people in France's colonies. The National Assembly unanimously approved the bill to repeal the "Code Noir," a decree signed in 1685 by King Louis XIV. France abolished slavery in 1848, but the Code Noir was never formally repealed. The vote is seen as a significant step in addressing France's colonial past. President Emmanuel Macron recently suggested the idea of reparations for slavery, though details remain unclear. The repeal is considered symbolic, with many calling for further action to address systemic racism and inequality.

Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese

TOKYO (AP) — The Humanoids Summit Tokyo showcases advanced robotics, highlighting China's growing influence. Companies like Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics are refining technology initially developed in Japan and the U.S., often for cheaper mass production. It mirrors past trends in industries like electronics and vehicles. Experts note Japan's initial lead in humanoids but point to China's rapid advancements. The event features robots like the Mini Pi Plus from High Torque of China, which is affordable but limited in function. Japan's cultural acceptance of robotics remains strong, with experts emphasizing its potential as an ideal place for integrating robots into society.

Median pay for CEOs rose nearly 6% in 2025, but some compensation packages were eye-popping

NEW YORK (AP) — The typical CEO compensation package rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17.7 million, as company boards rewarded their top executives for bigger profits and higher stock prices, and gave them incentives to stick around and make even more money for shareholders in the years ahead. The median employee at these companies earned $89,744, reflecting a 4.7% increase year over year. While that gain outpaced inflation in 2025, many workers were still feeling pinched by the accumulation of higher prices over the past few years. Tesla CEO Elon Musk topped the survey with a pay package valued at $132 billion.

Chinese online retailer Temu hit with $232 million fine over unsafe toys and electronics

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators have fined Chinese online retailer Temu for failing to protect consumers from illegal products. The 27-nation bloc's investigation found that Temu exposed consumers to high-risk items like baby toys and small electronics that didn't comply with EU safety rules. The penalty was issued under the Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to keep users safe from harmful content or goods. Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, has 92 million users in the EU. The European Commission criticized Temu's inadequate risk assessments and urged compliance with the law. Temu has until the end of August to submit an action plan.

World shares decline and oil prices gain more than $2 after US strikes on Iran

Shares have fallen in Asia after the U.S. conducted what the military said were defensive strikes against Iran. Oil prices gained more than $2 a barrel and U.S. futures inched lower. U.S. officials said Central Command forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military also hit an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks inched to more records after oil prices declined more than 4%. The S&P 500 edged up by less than 0.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%. All three indexes set all-time highs.

Fair housing groups file lawsuit arguing a federal rule change removes protections

Fair housing groups have filed a lawsuit over a rule change by the Trump administration that they allege reverses decades of lending protections and opens the door to discrimination against Black people, Latinos and other minorities. The federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Washington, D.C. It takes aim at a change made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which bars lenders from discriminating against credit applicants. Plaintiffs are challenging a change that wouldn't require lenders to consider “disparate impact” — policies that appear neutral but tend to cause disproportionate harm to certain groups.

In a tourist-friendly move, China's Tencent to allow PayPal payments through its WeChat networks

HONG KONG (AP) — Tencent says users of PayPal will be able to make payments in China using QR codes through WeChat Pay's extensive merchant network, in a tourism friendly move. Apart from social media and messaging, Tencent's WeChat offers payment services called WeChat Pay, or Weixin Pay, in mainland China. Tencent said in a statement that the feature will be available to U.S.-based PayPal users first, with more markets to follow. Since cashless payments have become increasingly common in China, the move is likely to provide greater convenience to foreign visitors. WeChat Pay and Ant Group’s Alipay, part of the Alibaba e-commerce empire, are widely available across China including in taxis and restaurants.