World shares rise on hopes for US-China truce, Fed outlook

BANGKOK (AP) — Global markets advanced Thursday on hopes for a trade truce between the United States and China and the Federal Reserve's hint at lower rates. The price of oil surged amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. Confirmation of a meeting between President Donald Trump and his...

Turkey launches new gas drillship amid tensions with Cyprus

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey is launching a second drillship that it says will drill for gas off neighboring Cyprus despite European Union warnings to refrain from such illegal actions that could incur sanctions against Ankara. Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez was due aboard the Yavuz on Wednesday as part of...

UK central bank holds rates amid Brexit, trade uncertainty

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England has kept its main interest rate on hold at 0.75% and warned that a combination of Brexit worries and global trade tensions was weighing on growth. All nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee backed the decision to not change rates. There had been some expectations in...

Boeing eyes more 737 Max sales after post-crash drought

PARIS (AP) — Boeing's post-crash business slump may be coming to an end. The plane maker said Thursday that it's in negotiations with several customers interested in buying the 737 Max jet, as it tries to rebuild trust in the plane and its own reputation after two Max crashes that killed 346 people. But...

China rejects threats, tariffs as way to resolve trade war

BEIJING (AP) — China warned Thursday that threats and tariffs will not resolve trade tensions between the two biggest economies and blasted Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for his criticism of technology giant Huawei over patents. Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said Thursday that its "core concern" over mutual...

Oil shippers boost security after attacks on tankers in Gulf

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A series of attacks on oil tankers near the Persian Gulf has ratcheted up tensions between the U.S. and Iran — and raised fears over the safety of one of Asia's most vital energy trade routes, where about a fifth of the world's oil passes through its narrowest at...

Bank of England votes unanimously to leave key interest rate unchanged at 0.75%

Putin faces gripes in call-in show about living standards

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin faced a litany of complaints about low living standards during a marathon call-in show Thursday, promising to boost wages and pensions and boost social programs. More than 1.5 million people have sent their questions by phone, video calls or email. For the people...

The Latest: Putin won't budge to win sanctions respite

MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Putin's annual call-in show (all times local): 1:45 p.m. President Vladimir Putin says that Russia will not compromise on its core interests to win a respite from Western sanctions. Putin admitted that the U.S. and the European Union sanctions have cost Russia an estimated $50...

Asian nations scramble to contain pig disease outbreaks

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Asian nations are scrambling to contain the spread of highly contagious African swine fever, with Vietnam culling 2.5 million pigs and China reporting more than a million dead in an unprecedentedly huge epidemic some fear is out of control. Smaller outbreaks have been reported in Hong...