French far right leads after legislative elections' 1st round but rivals hope to deny it a majority

PARIS (AP) — France's National Rally surged into the lead in the first round of legislative elections, according to results released early Monday, bringing the far-right party to the brink of power and dealing a major blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists in an election that could set...

European Union accuses Facebook owner Meta of breaking digital rules with paid ad-free option

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators accused social media company Meta Platforms on Monday of breaching the bloc's new digital competition rulebook by forcing Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them. Meta has been giving European users...

European Union accuses Facebook and Instagram owner Meta of breaking bloc's digital rules with paid ad-free option

Dangerous Hurricane Beryl closes in on southeast Caribbean

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl was closing in on the southeastern Caribbean, and government officials late Sunday pleaded with people to take shelter from the dangerous Category 3 storm. The storm was expected to make landfall in the Windward Islands on Monday...

Stock market today: French shares surge as far right party takes lead in first round of election

Shares advanced on Monday in Europe, with the benchmark in Paris up 2.8% briefly after the far-right National Rally gained a strong lead in first-round legislative elections. Other European markets opened higher, while most Asian markets also gained. The euro rose,...

Surveys show Chinese economy growing but at modest pace

BANGKOK (AP) — Surveys of Chinese factory managers showed a mixed outlook for the world's second-largest economy in June, with growth steady but not picking up much steam. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing's official purchasing managers index, or PMI, remained at...

Deal reached in WestJet strike but travel disruptions still expected for Canadian airline

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers over the Canada Day long weekend. WestJet said late Sunday there will still be flight disruptions...

Under pressure on plane safety, Boeing is buying stressed supplier Spirit for $4.7 billion

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Boeing announced plans to acquire key supplier Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion, a move that it says will improve plane quality and safety amid increasing scrutiny by Congress, airlines and the Department of Justice. Boeing previously owned Spirit, and the...

Japan revises economic growth in 1Q downward, as latest data show sluggish demand and rising prices

BANGKOK (AP) — Japan revised its earlier estimates to show that its economy contracted at a 2.9% annual pace in the first quarter of the year, as meanwhile a survey by the central bank released Monday showed conditions remain sluggish. Analysts had expected the downward revision...

Economic turmoil in Bolivia fuels distrust in government and its claim of a 'failed coup'

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Signs reading “I'm buying dollars” line the doors of Víctor Vargas’ shoe shop in the heart of Bolivia’s biggest city, a desperate attempt to keep his family business alive. Just a few years ago, the 45-year-old Vargas would unlock the doors at 8 a.m....