NEW YORK — Walmart on Tuesday reported another quarter of strong results, as its low prices attracted shoppers looking for deals in an economically challenging environment marked by bouts of inflation. Yet inflation is fading, resulting in Walmart customers spending less per trip, leading the company to release a modest earnings forecast. Walmart also said it is buying smart TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion…

A projection in Finland says Alexander Stubb wins the first round of the presidential election to set up a Feb 11 runoff ByThe Associated Press January 28, 2024, 2:06 PM HELSINKI — A projection in Finland says Alexander Stubb wins the first round of the presidential election to set up a Feb 11 runoff. Top Stories Overwhelming majority of Americans think Biden is too old…

Movie theaters and audiences settled for seconds this weekend. With no new wide releases on the schedule, a mob of holdovers sustained the North American box office, which was led by “ The Beekeeper ” in its third week of release. Amazon MGM Studios’ Jason Statham actioner earned $7.4 million to take the No. 1 spot, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was down only…

PARIS — France’s interior ministry on Sunday ordered a large deployment of security forces around Paris as angry farmers threatened to head toward the capital, hours after climate activists hurled soup at the glass protecting the “Mona Lisa” painting at the Louvre Museum. French farmers are putting pressure on the government to respond to their demands for better remuneration for their produce, less red tape…

ABUJA, Nigeria — West African nations Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from the regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS, their respective juntas announced Sunday. They accused the bloc of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. ECOWAS said in a statement that it wasn’t notified of the countries’ decision to withdraw. The juntas said in a joint statement read on state…

LONDON — Amazon called off its purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot on Monday, blaming “undue and disproportionate regulatory hurdles” after the European Union signaled its objection to the deal. The companies said in joint statement that they were disappointed but mutually agreed to terminate the acquisition. The deal faced antitrust scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, but most strongly in Europe, where regulators…

HELSINKI — Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won the first round of Finland’s presidential election Sunday and will face runner-up ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in a runoff next month. The vote largely centered on the Nordic nation’s new role as a NATO front-line country with Russia, and the security situation in Europe, particularly Russia’s assault on Ukraine. With all the votes counted, Stubb led the…

WASHINGTON — The company behind a global recall of sleep apnea machines said Monday it will stop selling the devices in the U.S., under a tentative agreement with regulators that could cost the manufacturer nearly $400 million. Device maker Philips has recalled more than 5 million pressurized breathing machines due to risks that their internal foam can break down over time, leading users to inhale…

U.S. auto safety regulators will not seek a recall after a seven-year investigation into complaints alleging that more than 1 million Dodge and Ram vehicles can roll away after being shifted into park ByThe Associated Press January 29, 2024, 9:20 AM FILE – This Feb. 13, 2020 photo shows the Ram truck logo at the 2020 Pittsburgh International Auto Show in Pittsburgh. U.S. auto safety…

LONDON — Britain’s government will ban the sale of disposable vapes and limit their cornucopia of flavors to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine, officials said Monday. It also plans to stick to a contentious proposal to ban today’s young people from ever buying cigarettes. It is currently illegal to sell vapes or tobacco to children under 18 in the U.K., but officials say…