Meta reaches $17 billion settlement with states in landmark trial over teen social media addiction

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states. That's according to state attorneys general, who made the announcement Wednesday. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California. The agreement is worth $353 million in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in state consumer protection history.

Key inflation gauge remains elevated during Iran conflict and ongoing US trade fights

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation measure closely watched by the Federal Reserve was unchanged last month in the latest sign that many Americans are still struggling with higher costs. The Commerce Department’s Wednesday report showed that prices rose 3.7% in July compared with a year earlier. Inflation has worsened since the Iran war began in late February, when it stood at 2.9%. Stubbornly high prices are shaping up to be a key issue in the midterm elections, particularly as the Iran war keeps gas prices high, President Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs on Canada and China, and spending on AI infrastructure has pushed up the cost of computers, gaming consoles, and semiconductors.

The US and Canada could pull back from an all-out trade war. It's not clear that they will

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Canada have ramped up their trade war, hitting each other with steep new tit-for-tat tariffs. Despite the bravado coming from both sides of the border over the past few days, though, analysts suspect the longtime allies will eventually strike a deal to end a conflict neither really wants. The prospects for compromise looked bleak Tuesday, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacting to new 50% U.S. tariffs on certain Canadian goods by responding in kind on about $20 billion worth of American imports, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment. With the breakdown threatening to harm one of the world’s largest trading relationships, experts say there’s still time to avoid an even bigger trade war.

US economy expanded at sluggish 1.5% pace in second quarter, on par with earlier estimate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June. But consumer spending stayed strong. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that growth in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of a goods and services — decelerated from a 2.1% pace from January through March. The second-quarter growth number was unchanged from the department’s first estimate. Still, consumer spending — which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity — increased at a healthy 3.4% annual clip, up from 0.5% in the January-March period. The reason for the lackluster growth number was a surge in imports.

US stocks and bonds drift following the latest update on inlfation, while oil prices fall

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is drifting after a report said inflation last month and growth for the economy during the spring were a touch worse than economists expected. The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% Wednesday but remains near its all-time high set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 7 points, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Wall Street is making relatively few big moves ahead of an earnings report coming from its most influential stock, Nvidia, after trading ends for the day. The bond market is holding relatively steady following some brief swings, while oil prices continue to drop.

Dubai airport reports sharp drop in second quarter traffic due to Iran war's effects

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai International Airport reports a sharp drop in passengers during the second quarter. The Iran war disrupted air travel, prompting many travelers to avoid the Middle East. The airport is one of the world’s busiest hubs. It recorded 13 million passengers in the second quarter, following 31.5 million in the first half. This marks a 31.3% drop over first-half passenger traffic in 2025. Air traffic in the UAE and the Gulf region was disrupted by shutdowns and restrictions after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. CEO Paul Griffiths notes a steady increase in passenger volume each month in the second quarter.

In a divided America, the left and right unite to oppose artificial intelligence data centers

MURDOCK, Neb. (AP) — In the small Nebraska village of Murdock, now-paused plans for two potential data centers have sparked the kinds of debates that have raged in cities and towns across the country. And those debates often cut across ideological lines. Some see job opportunities that can help the U.S. compete with China in technology. Others worry about losing farmland and the high amounts of electricity and water needed to power these centers. The debate has united left-leaning environmentalists and conservative farmers. Data centers have become a growing concern as November's midterm elections loom, but are one of the rare major issues that don't divide along party lines.

How to avoid a Social Security cut? Lawmakers are floating ideas for what to do

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two senators who are set to retire have embarked on a mission to save tens of millions of Social Security beneficiaries from a projected 22% cut in their benefits, starting in just six years. It’s one of the most perilous political efforts that a member of Congress can undertake. So it’s telling that this push is being led by two lawmakers who are leaving Capitol Hill, Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. The projected benefit cut in 2032 has more lawmakers talking about possible solutions, though action this Congress is highly unlikely.

Honda Prelude vs Toyota GR86, an Edmunds sport coupe test

Sport coupes have grown scarce, so the return of the Honda Prelude alongside the purist Toyota GR86 gives shoppers a rare and unusual choice. The Prelude reinvents itself for 2026 as a hybrid, borrowing high-performance hardware from the Honda Civic Type R to deliver class-leading grip and superb handling balance and braking. The GR86 sticks to classic rear-wheel-drive manners with a manual transmission and a lower price tag. Will the Prelude’s cabin comfort, bigger cargo space, better tech, and superb fuel economy beat the GR86’s quicker acceleration and stronger value? Read on to find out.

Here's all the ways that data center controversies have transformed the midterm elections

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The snowballing opposition to data center projects in communities across the United States has transformed the midterm election landscape. It's also thrown a wrench into the plans of the world’s richest companies. And it's brought a defense from perhaps the industry’s biggest booster, President Donald Trump. There's a search for large tracts of land, so tech giants and data center developers are exploring deeper into rural America. That's often uniting conservative ranching and farming communities with left-leaning environmental advocacy groups. Trump continues to stick up for data centers, even as politicians run from them.