Government And Institutions

Sweden's central bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at a record minus 0.50 percent but says it will expand its bond-purchase program by 30 billion kroner ($3.2 billion) during the first half of 2017.

President Barack Obama is expected to order wide swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans placed permanently off-limits for oil drilling, in an 11th-hour push for environmental protection before he leaves office.

President Barack Obama is expected to order wide swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans placed permanently off-limits for oil drilling, in an 11th-hour push for environmental protection before he leaves office.

Oklahoma regulators say the number of earthquakes could increase as oil and gas production expands in a broad area of the state, and they're telling energy companies that they need to be ready to shut down if a temblor exceeds magnitude 3.5.

Oklahoma regulators say the number of earthquakes could increase as oil and gas production expands in a broad area of the state, and they're telling energy companies that they need to be ready to shut down if a temblor exceeds magnitude 3.5.

The Latest on a deal for the last 80,000 diesel cars in Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal (all times local): 1:25 p.m.

The Latest on a deal for the last 80,000 diesel cars in Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal (all times local): 1:25 p.m.

Even as they maneuver for a share of the $1 trillion in spending Donald Trump promised to rebuild America's roads, bridges and airports, lobbyists for transportation and utility industries are beginning to wonder whether Trump really meant what he said.

Even as they maneuver for a share of the $1 trillion in spending Donald Trump promised to rebuild America's roads, bridges and airports, lobbyists for transportation and utility industries are beginning to wonder whether Trump really meant what he said.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey warned Tuesday that any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to roll back renewable energy regulations will face fierce opposition from a newly galvanized environmental movement.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey warned Tuesday that any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to roll back renewable energy regulations will face fierce opposition from a newly galvanized environmental movement.

New U.S. sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict are hostile acts by the outgoing Obama administration and Russia will expand its sanctions lists against the United States in response, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS news agency.

New U.S. sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict are hostile acts by the outgoing Obama administration and Russia will expand its sanctions lists against the United States in response, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS news agency.

Walgreens and Rite Aid will sell 865 stores to rival retailer Fred's for $950 million, possibly removing the final roadblock preventing the tie up between the nation's largest and third-largest drugstore chains.

Walgreens and Rite Aid will sell 865 stores to rival retailer Fred's for $950 million, possibly removing the final roadblock preventing the tie up between the nation's largest and third-largest drugstore chains.

China's media regulators are clamping down on the booming live-streaming industry.

China's media regulators are clamping down on the booming live-streaming industry.

The Australian and French defense ministers say they are giving top priority to concealing design details of a new Australian submarine after data was leaked from French shipbuilder DCNS about a submarine built for India.

The Australian and French defense ministers say they are giving top priority to concealing design details of a new Australian submarine after data was leaked from French shipbuilder DCNS about a submarine built for India.

The mayor of Philadelphia is hailing a judge's dismissal of a lawsuit aimed at blocking the soda tax set to take effect the city next month.