Metro

USDA withdraws limit on salmonella in raw poultry

The Agriculture Department says it is withdrawing a plan to limit salmonella bacteria in poultry products. The move halts a Biden Administration effort designed to prevent food poisoning.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service said Thursday that it withdrew the proposal after getting more than 7,000 comments. The move drew praise from the poultry industry and criticism from food safety advocates.

Wall Street’s rally roars into 3rd day

U.S. stocks rallied further as better-than-expected profits for U.S. companies piled up, though CEOs say they’re unsure whether it will last because of uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s trade war.

The S&P 500 jumped 2% Thursday for its third straight day of big gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.7%.

China denies suggestion it is in talks with US

China has denied any suggestion it’s in active negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying any notion of progress in the matter is as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.”

China’s comments come after Trump said Tuesday things are going fine with China and the final tariff rate on China’s exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%.

Google’s parent begins year with robust growth

Google’s profits surged 50% in this year’s opening quarter, overcoming the competitive and legal threats that its internet empire is facing amid an economy roiled by a global trade war.

The numbers released Thursday by Google parent Alphabet Inc. indicate the company is rising to the challenge so far, but investors are likely to remain concerned about the turbulent times ahead.

Starbucks accused of slave-like conditions

A labor rights group has alleged that Starbucks sourced coffee from a major Brazilian cooperative whose member farms were cited for keeping workers in slave-like conditions.

International Rights Advocates sued Starbucks on Thursday on behalf of eight Brazilian coffee farm workers. The lawsuit alleges that Starbucks violated U.S. trafficking laws by continuing to buy coffee from the Cooxupe even after Brazilian authorities repeatedly cited the coffee cooperative for trafficking and forced labor violations.

IMF chief urges countries to move to resolve trade

The head of the International Monetary Fund urged countries to move “swiftly” to resolve trade disputes that threaten global economic growth.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the unpredictability arising from President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign of taxes on foreign imports is causing companies to delay investments and consumers to hold off on spending.

Airlines trim flights, withdraw profit outlooks

Major U.S. airlines are reducing their flight schedules and revising or withdrawing their profit outlooks for the year due to less domestic travel demand as sentiment about the national and global economies sours.

American Airlines pulled its financial guidance for 2025 on Thursday, joining rivals Southwest and Delta in declaring the economic outlook too uncertain to provide full-year forecasts.

Average rate on US 30-year mortgage eases

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains close to its highest level in two months.

The rate fell to 6.81% from 6.83% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said.