Energy in America

Federal officials are blaming a lack of leadership, money and communication in Puerto Rico for setting back hurricane recovery efforts in the U.S. territory.

One of the largest U.S. electricity companies is making changes that could make it easier for black, female and other minority-owned construction and hauling firms to compete for work on its multibillion-dollar project to excavate and close coal-ash storage pits.

Turkmenistan, which once provided drivers a quota of free gasoline every month, has raised its pump prices by 50 percent as the country struggles with low prices for its mainstay export of natural gas.

A mining watchdog is advising the Dutch government to significantly decrease the amount of gas extracted from the northeastern region of Groningen, saying a cut is necessary to reduce the risk of damage caused by subsequent earthquakes.

Energy giant Shell says its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled as oil prices surged and the company benefited from prior cost cutting.

Asian markets were mixed on Thursday with Tokyo stocks higher as the yen weakened against the U.S. dollar.

The Australian government has announced tighter controls on foreign investment in electricity grids and farmland two years after Chinese buyers were blocked from high-profile corporate takeovers in both sectors.

German automaker Daimler AG says its net profit rose 24 percent to a record 10.9 billion euros ($13.5 billion) last year, helped by strong sales of its Mercedes-Benz SUVs and new E-Class luxury sedan.

Goldman Sachs raised its Brent crude price forecasts on Thursday, saying oil markets have rebalanced six months sooner than expected.

Royal Dutch Shell profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2017 to $4.3 billion, slightly ahead of forecasts.

Stocks moved higher in early trading Wednesday after several big U.S. companies reported strong quarterly results.

___ Fed leaves key rate unchanged at Yellen's final meeting WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged but signaled that it expects to resume raising rates gradually to reflect a healthy job market and economy.

Royal Dutch Shell has won nine of the 29 deep-water oil exploration blocks Mexico put up for bid in the Gulf of Mexico.

A study says the nation's largest public utility has given large businesses breaks on electric rates over six years while residential customers' rates increased.

Dutch authorities have brokered a new agreement about how to compensate damages suffered by homeowners in the northeastern Netherlands due to earthquakes caused by gas extraction.

Egypt's president has again accused unknown parties of being behind the 2016 murder of an Italian researcher, alleging a plot to sabotage bilateral relations during a ceremony marking the start of a massive gas project with Italian energy firm Eni.

U.S. stocks fell sharply in early trading Tuesday, extending the market's losses from a day earlier.

A federal judge has refused to order a temporary halt to construction of a crude oil pipeline through an environmentally fragile river swamp in south Louisiana.

___ Amazon, Buffett and JPMorgan join forces on health care Three of corporate America's heaviest hitters — Amazon, Warren Buffett and JPMorgan Chase — have sent a shudder through the health care industry by announcing plans to create a company that would provide their employees with high-quality, affordable coverage.