US to issue passports with Trump’s picture

The State Department says it’s preparing a limited release of commemorative U.S. passports celebrating America’s 250th birthday and featuring a picture of President Donald Trump.

He would be the first living president to be featured in the travel document.

Starbucks: Gas prices aren’t dampening sales

Starbucks said Tuesday that customers are responding to improved service in its stores, which saw better-than-expected sales in the company’s fiscal second quarter.

The Seattle coffee giant said global same-store sales for the January-March period rose 6.2%. In the U.S., same-store sales jumped 7%.

BP’s profit more than doubles as prices soar

BP’s profit more than doubled in the first quarter as the war in Iran drove energy prices sharply higher.

On Tuesday as the British energy giant reported a banner financial performance, gasoline prices in the U.S. hit new multiyear highs, a point of increasing agitation for travelers, households and also businesses that are sensitive to higher energy prices, such as airlines.

Musk takes stand in trial between AI CEO Altman

Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO, world’s richest man and OpenAI’s cofounder, took the stand Tuesday in a high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman that could reshape the future development of artificial intelligence.

The bickering billionaires’ early-morning appearances at the Oakland, California, federal courthouse foreshadow what could be a dramatic start to a legal drama that is expected to be brimming with intrigue and potentially embarrassing details about the two tech moguls.

Top Court likely to shut down suit over China aid

The Supreme Court seems likely to grant tech giant Cisco’s bid to shut down a lawsuit claiming that the company’s technology was used to persecute members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in China.

The company argues that it cannot be held liable for aiding and abetting human rights violations under the 18th-century Alien Tort Statute or the Torture Victim Protection Act. An Associated Press investigation last year showed that American companies helped construct China’s surveillance state, despite warnings that Falun Gong members and others were being targeted.

GM expects a $500M tariff refund from levies

General Motors is expecting a $500 million tariff refund after the Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most sweeping levies.

On Tuesday, GM said it’s now looking to rake in $13.5 billion to $15.5 billion in earnings before interest and taxes this year.

US consumer confidence inches higher in April

U.S. consumer confidence rose modestly in April despite growing anxiety over soaring energy prices brought on by the war in Iran.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index inched up to 92.8 in April from 92.2 in March. Respondents’ comments about prices, oil, gas and the war increased in April as the national average for a gallon of gas in the U.S. rose to $4.18 this week.

McDonald’s latest chain to offer fancier drinks

Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings.

McDonald’s said Tuesday it will launch six handcrafted beverages in U.S. restaurants on May 6.