AP Business Digest
Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.
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UPCOMING
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FEDERAL RESERVE-MINUTES
DESCRIPTION: The Federal Reserve releases minutes from its most recent policy meeting, when it left its benchmark rate alone for the first time since summer. By Christopher Rugaber. UPCOMING: Developing from release of minutes at 2 p.m.
UPCOMING: By 02/19/2025 2:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo
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NEBRASKA-CULTIVATED MEAT
DESCRIPTION: A bill being pushed by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen -- Nebraska's largest pork producer and among the largest producers in the country -- would ban the sale of so-called lab-grown meat in Nebraska.
UPCOMING: By 02/19/2025 3:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo
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US TRUMP-FEDERAL WORKERS
DESCRIPTION: Text story on merit.
UPCOMING: By 02/19/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Video, Text, Photo, LiveVideo
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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ENT--TRUE CRIME CRUISE
True crime cruise will star John Walsh and hosts of 'RedHanded,' 'Scamfluencers' and 'Kill List'
SUMMARY: Hosts of many popular true crime podcasts will headline a murder-themed cruise next year that's being billed as a first-of-its kind immersive mystery experience at sea. The cruise will feature "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh, Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala from "RedHanded," Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi from "Scamfluencers," Aaron Habel and Justin Evans from "Generation Why," Carl Miller of "Kill List," "Hollywood & Crime" host Tracy Pattin and Chris Stewart from "Law & Crime." Wondery's Exhibit C Presents: A True Crime Cruise will take place on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy ship Jan. 26-30. The four-night cruise sails from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas.
WORDS: 328 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 10:17 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:53f7f6435a1702e0fdf5ebc19340dc77&mediaType=text
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ML--EMIRATES-EARNS-ETHIAD
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
SUMMARY: Long-haul carrier Etihad Airways has announced it made a record $427 million profit in 2024, part of a financial rebound for the Abu Dhabi-based airline. While still a slender profit compared to rival Emirates' record profits of $4.7 billion in 2023, it continues a major turnaround for Etihad. The airline had revenues of nearly $6.9 billion in 2024, compared to $5.5 billion in 2023. Its profit in 2023 was just $143 million. It released its annual report on Wednesday.
WORDS: 313 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 10:07 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0a0ac1cc566cd143e76265ae69b090f5&mediaType=text
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FINANCIAL MARKETS
Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its record
SUMMARY: U.S. stock indexes are edging lower on a relatively quiet Wall Street. The S&P 500 slipped by 0.2%, a day after setting an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 163 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. Celanese helped lead the way lower after the chemical company warned of weaker demand in the auto and other markets carrying over into the start of this year from the end of the last one. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market, even as uncertainty continues because of President Donald Trump's tariff threats. Stocks fell in Europe after finishing mixed in Asia.
WORDS: 562 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 9:46 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5d60888d8ea6f1e9c7dc19e8c89833e8&mediaType=text
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AS--AI-DATA CENTER-MALAYSIA-ABRIDGED
Malaysia is betting on data centers to boost its economy. But experts warn they come at a price.
SUMMARY: Johor in Malaysia is being transformed by the construction of giant data centers. The government hopes that the billions in investment as part of a global artificial intelligence boom will help it get rich by modernizing its economy. But experts warn that data centers come at a price: They guzzle land, water and power and offer few direct jobs in return. Some experts say that they're looking to build in warmer countries, despite higher power and water consumption for cooling, because they're less welcome in cooler, richer countries. Others warned of digital colonialism, where rich tech companies get richer but leave little behind.
WORDS: 1273 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 9:25 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:39aac9c7e52a805dd06fda9e1f1f2a64&mediaType=text
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US--NIKOLA-BANKRUPTCY
Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola files for bankruptcy protection
SUMMARY: Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola is filing for for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, once a rising star on Wall Street, became enmeshed in scandal and its founder was convicted in 2022 for misleading investors about its capabilities. Nikola filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and said Wednesday that it has also filed a motion seeking approval to pursue an auction and sale of the business.
WORDS: 582 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 9:25 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:83cf7afa084dd26ad3ff7175b4a7b0b5&mediaType=text
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US-MED--SNAP-FOODS
Trump officials want to ban junk food from SNAP. Past efforts show it's not easy to do
SUMMARY: A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may soon get a boost from new Trump Administration officials. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, and Brooke Rollins, the new agriculture secretary, favor stripping such treats from the program previously known as food stamps. The $113 billion SNAP program helps about 42 million low-income Americans pay for nutritious food. Such changes have been proposed many times in past decades, but never approved. But policy experts say this moment could be different. Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law -- or for states to win waivers.
WORDS: 1030 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 9:20 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b6351b86a17b281b67480fe2d24b54f4&mediaType=text
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ENT--TV-PROCEDURALS LEVEL UP
TV procedurals up their game, with doctors on cruises and quirky single moms solving crimes
SUMMARY: "Watson" is an unusual TV medical procedural. The CBS series stars Morris Chestnut as the titular character who leads a team of medical detectives set in a present-day Pittsburgh populated with characters from the Sherlock Holmes universe. "Watson" is not alone among the networks jazzing up the tried-and-true procedural. ABC's "Doctor Odyssey" puts a medical procedural aboard a luxury cruise ship. CBS has Kathy Bates in "Matlock" playing an underestimated retirement-age lawyer with a twist. CBS' "Elsbeth" and ABC's "High Potential" are heavy on the quirky but competent crime-solvers. Supercharging network procedurals comes as streaming increasingly offers subscribers a highly curated selection of unconventional series with big names and high production values.
WORDS: 1128 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 8:51 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:77d1502b193df03c5cbebc99fe991934&mediaType=text
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US--TRUMP-CABINET-LABOR
Trump's Labor Department pick has union support. Worker advocates wonder how much power she'd have
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Labor has been hailed by union heads as pro-labor. But advocates for workers' rights are questioning whether former U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be able to uphold that reputation in an administration that wants to drastically curtail government spending and the size of the federal workforce. The Republican from Oregon is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Lori Chavez-DeRemer's voting record as a one-term congresswoman earned her union support. That's led some political observers to assume Trump picked her as a way to appeal to voters who are pro-union.
WORDS: 757 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 8:44 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4516f1cf0ca590bc664b5577855dc96f&mediaType=text
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AS--AI-DATA CENTER-MALAYSIA
Malaysia is betting on data centers to boost its economy. But experts warn they come at a price.
SUMMARY: Johor in Malaysia is being transformed by the construction of giant data centers. The government hopes that the billions in investment as part of a global artificial intelligence boom will help it get rich by modernizing its economy. But experts warn that data centers come at a price: They guzzle land, water and power and offer few direct jobs in return. Some experts say that they're looking to build in warmer countries, despite higher power and water consumption for cooling, because they're less welcome in cooler, richer countries. Others warned of digital colonialism, where rich tech companies get richer but leave little behind.
WORDS: 1656 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 8:44 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cfb087f755d3e203a347463af229e88d&mediaType=text
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US--AP POLL-AIR SAFETY
Americans' confidence in air travel safety dips slightly after Washington plane crash: AP-NORC poll
SUMMARY: A new poll finds Americans' confidence in air transportation and the federal agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has slipped a little from last year, following a recent crash in Washington. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows 64% of U.S. adults say plane travel is "very safe" or "somewhat safe," down from 71%. About 2 in 10 U.S. adults say air transportation is very or somewhat unsafe, up from 12%. The poll was conducted shortly after an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided in Washington but before a Delta jet flipped on its roof while landing in Toronto.
WORDS: 603 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 8:37 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7928e7d794f30f5f4921d26f8c67146b&mediaType=text
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ENT--FILM-STEVEN SPIELBERG
Steven Spielberg's next movie, with Josh O'Connor and Emily Blunt, set for June 2026
SUMMARY: Steven Spielberg is gearing up to direct a new film starring Josh O'Connor and Emily Blunt. Universal Pictures said Tuesday that the still untitled "event film" is set for a theatrical release on June 12, 2026. Details are scarce about the new project, which will be based on a story by Spielberg and written by his frequent collaborator David Koepp. Colman Domingo, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson are also set to star. Universal had previously slated the next film from "Everything Everywhere All At Once" filmmakers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for June 12, but said a new date will be announced soon.
WORDS: 187 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 8:24 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7dec93364eead638707ff0a9dd9775c3&mediaType=text
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US--ALASKA-GAS PIPELINE
Trump puts the spotlight anew on a major Alaska gas project. Will it make a difference?
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says his administration will ensure a major natural gas pipeline in Alaska gets built. That's drawn new attention to a project that's been a longstanding dream for Alaska leaders but has languished amid shifting markets and the massive cost of such an undertaking. Trump mentioned the Alaska liquefied natural gas project since his election, including during a news conference with Japan's prime minister earlier this month. Pipeline supporters have been trying for years to develop Alaska's vast stores of North Slope gas largely for export, particularly to Asian countries. But critics say the project still faces too many hurdles.
WORDS: 790 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 7:42 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dda1408ebd2235232092ce45ab63ee53&mediaType=text
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BEHIND THE WHEEL: FIVE VEHICLES FOR 2025
Edmunds: Five new vehicles arriving in 2025 that were worth the wait
SUMMARY: Car companies are always introducing compelling new models, making it harder to decide if you should get a new car, truck or SUV now or wait to see what else might be available within the year. After all, you don't want to suffer buyer's remorse. If you're in a position to hold off on a purchase for a bit, we've got a list of five upcoming vehicles that you might think will be worth the wait. They range from a retro-flavored sedan with a traditional gasoline engine to rugged off-road SUVs powered purely by electrons.
WORDS: 822 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 7:36 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c265f9c171ea6a2738d00c7b054b6eb5&mediaType=text
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EU--ITALY-GOOGLE-TAX
Google agrees to pay Italy $340 million to settle a tax evasion investigation
SUMMARY: Italian prosecutors say they are seeking to drop a tax evasion investigation against Google after the tech giant agreed to pay a 326 million euro ($340 million) settlement. Prosecutors in Milan had opened an investigation into Google for failure to pay taxes on earnings in Italy from 2015-2019. The investigation focused on revenues from the sale of advertising, and cited the presence of servers and other infrastructure in Italy. Google acknowledged the settlement in statement, saying it resolves a tax audit without litigation.
WORDS: 107 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 7:04 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3b4cd3e1f338ba0d5a3067f5919383b3&mediaType=text
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AF--SOMALIA-PIRACY
Suspected Somali pirates seize a new Yemeni fishing boat in second recent attack
WORDS: 216 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 6:20 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:85d96bb0f0f2942050d87addbe08e3c0&mediaType=text
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EU--GERMANY-US-TRADE
US displaced China as Germany's biggest single trading partner last year
SUMMARY: The United States was Germany's biggest single trading partner last year for the first time since 2015, displacing China from the top spot as exports to the Asian power declined. Official figures released Wednesday showed that trade between the U.S. and Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, ticked up 0.1% compared with 252.8 billion euros in 2023. Trade with China, Germany's biggest trading partner every year from 2016 to 2023, dropped 3.1% to 246.3 billion euros. Germany for years expanded exports and dominated world trade in engineered products like industrial machinery and luxury cars. But it's suffered from increasing competition from Chinese companies, along with many other factors.
WORDS: 333 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 6:17 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:68a3ba3a26a5f0e67b74a1910d379ba9&mediaType=text
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EU--EUROPE-RUSSIA-SANCTIONS
EU envoys approve more sanctions against Russia to mark the third anniversary of its war on Ukraine
SUMMARY: European Union envoys have approved new sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move comes with the Europeans sidelined from U.S.-led talks with Russia to end the war. The sanctions will target dozens more officials and organizations, and impose new trade and bank restrictions. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed their adoption on Wednesday by the 27-nation bloc's ambassadors. She said on social media that "we are committed to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin." EU foreign ministers are due to endorse the sanctions on Monday.
WORDS: 361 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 5:33 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:23216422e4919ba37125743944b03f60&mediaType=text
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EU--BRITAIN-ECONOMY
UK inflation spikes to a 10-month high, likely to worry the Bank of England
WORDS: 402 - MOVED: 02/19/2025 2:55 a.m. EST
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c2fa8e840d99ea1fb860be9518b37d6f&mediaType=text
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