AP Business Digest

Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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US--CHATGPT-VULNERABLE TEENS

New study sheds light on ChatGPT's alarming interactions with teens

SUMMARY: New research from a watchdog group reveals ChatGPT can provide harmful advice to teens. The Associated Press reviewed interactions where the chatbot gave detailed plans for drug use, eating disorders, and even suicide notes. The Center for Countering Digital Hate found that testing ChatGPT with harmful prompts led the chatbot to respond in dangerous ways more than half the time. The study highlights the risks as more people, particularly teens, turn to AI for companionship and advice. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said after viewing the findings that its "work is ongoing" in refining "how models identify and respond appropriately in sensitive situations."

WORDS: 1362 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 10:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c569cddf28f1f33b36c692428c2191d4&mediaType=text

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US--WHATSAPP SCAM ACCOUNTS

WhatsApp takes down 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centers, Meta says

SUMMARY: WhatsApp has taken down 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centers worldwide, according to its parent company, Meta. The account deletions occurred over the first six months of the year as part of wider efforts from Meta to crack down on scams. On Tuesday, Meta also announced new tools on WhatsApp to help users spot scams, including a safety overview and test alerts. Scams are becoming all too common and increasingly sophisticated in today's digital world -- with too-good-to-be-true offers and unsolicited messages attempting to steal consumers' information or money filling our phones, social media and other corners of the internet each day.

WORDS: 307 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 10:27 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:49c5e8e530c1976b98f3d022f1c6ab8a&mediaType=text

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US--DISNEY-RESULTS

Disney's 3Q profit climbs on strength of domestic parks, streaming; strikes deal with WWE

SUMMARY: Disney's profit and revenue climbed in its fiscal third quarter as the entertainment company continued to add subscribers to its streaming service and see strength at its domestic theme parks. It also raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast on Wednesday and announced a deal with WWE that will see the sports entertainment company's premium live events, like WrestleMania ,streamed by ESPN.

WORDS: 899 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 10:19 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:610cc1164ad44976e79bc6d9c2357ca9&mediaType=text

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US--MCDONALD'S-RESULTS

McDonald's says its focus on value -- and a must-have Minecraft meal -- boosted second-quarter sales

SUMMARY: A focus on value, along with hot products like a "Minecraft"-themed meal, helped McDonald's turn around its sagging sales in the second quarter. The Chicago burger giant said Wednesday its revenue rose 5% to $6.8 billion in the April-June period. That was higher than Wall Street forecast. McDonald's said value menus are increasing customer traffic in the U.S. and overseas. But the company remains concerned about falling visits from lower-income consumers. McDonald's Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said the company is talking to U.S. franchisees about ways to bring those customers back.

WORDS: 535 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 10:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c158477380af29c9481b2ab75ac0e90f&mediaType=text

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EU--EDUCATION-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

College applications rise outside US as Trump cracks down on international students

SUMMARY: As part of its crackdown on immigration, President Donald Trump's administration is pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on international enrollment while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students. So while the U.S. remains the first choice for many international students, institutions in other countries are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. They include Britain, a rival education hub, and Dubai, which hosts dozens of international universities satellite campuses. The impact on U.S. universities -- and the nation's economy -- may be significant.

WORDS: 1009 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 9:58 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6fd432398ce4c87f49a89c9c39421dec&mediaType=text

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FINANCIAL MARKETS

Wall Street holds steady following mixed profit reports from McDonald's, Disney and Shopify

SUMMARY: Wall Street is holding relatively steady following a mixed set of profit reports from such giants as McDonald's and The Walt Disney Co. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 18 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4%. McDonald's and Shopify rose following their profit reports, while Disney fell after its earnings beat forecasts but its revenue fell short. The mixed trading continues a cooldown for the stock market following several sharp swings. Strong profit reports and hopes for cuts to interest rates have helped offset worries about how tariffs may be hurting the economy.

WORDS: 706 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 9:50 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5f713c2b951d099b621563e0925eee4b&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL MEDIA-ESPN

ESPN is acquiring NFL Network, rights for RedZone in a deal giving the NFL a stake in the network

SUMMARY: The NFL has entered into a nonbinding agreement to sell NFL Network and other media assets to ESPN. The league will receive a 10% equity stake in ESPN in return. The deal still requires a final agreement, the approval of NFL owners and regulatory clearance. ESPN plans to include NFL Network in its upcoming direct-to-consumer service. The NFL will continue to own and produce the RedZone channel but will allow ESPN to distribute it. NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football. Viewers are unlikely to see changes until next year.

WORDS: 1079 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 9:32 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a801cc6d355ddbcb98a8700125eed18b&mediaType=text

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AF--CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC-RUSSIA

Russia asks Central African Republic to replace Wagner with state-run Africa Corps and pay for it

SUMMARY: Officials in the Central African Republic have said that Russia has called on the country to replace the private Wagner mercenary group with Moscow's state-run Africa Corps and requested payment for further security services. The Central African Republic's government has been reluctant to agree to Moscow's demands because it sees Wagner as more effective and they prefer to pay for services with minerals, not in cash. Wagner has been in Central African Republic for years. They have been protecting President Faustin Archange Touadera and his government. Wagner has enjoyed access to the country's rich minerals including gold in exchange. But Russia has been trying to transition from Wagner to Africa Corps since Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in 2023.

WORDS: 600 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 9:16 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b9e4078548ceda4bbe8b70eb821d5a87&mediaType=text

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FASHION-Y2K RESURGENCE

Your junk could be Gen Z's treasure. How to profit from the resurgence of Y2K fashion

WORDS: 941 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 9:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7fc4c785c5e5ebdd7c812ce41969dbf&mediaType=text

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AF--ZAMBIA-US-MINE SPILL

6 months after toxic mine spill in northern Zambia, US Embassy orders personnel out of the area

WORDS: 350 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 7:40 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d825f6d00ecc13581c1b3db73dff2ca&mediaType=text

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JAPAN-EARNS-HONDA

Japan's Honda forecasts drop in profits despite strong US auto sales

SUMMARY: Honda has reported its profit in the last quarter was half of what it was a year earlier, as automakers were hit by 25% tariffs on vehicle exports to the United States. The Japanese automaker reported Wednesday that its April-June profit totaled $1.3 billion, about half of what it earned during the same period the previous year. Quarterly sales edged 1.2% lower. The Tokyo-based maker of the Accord sedan and Asimo robot revised upward its profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March 2026 to $2.9 billion. Honda said its motorcycle business in Brazil and Vietnam was solid, while North American car sales remained strong during the quarter despite headwinds from the tariffs.

WORDS: 378 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 6:42 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4995ef098e91d164c1887b0ae621ab3a&mediaType=text

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FBN--ESPN-NFL

ESPN reaches multi-year extension to air NFL Draft as well as additional rights for DTC service

SUMMARY: ESPN will continue to broadcast the NFL Draft as well as obtaining new digital rights for its upcoming direct-to-consumer service. The two agreements were announced Wednesday morning, two hours before the Walt Disney Company announced its third-quarter earnings. It also came after the NFL and ESPN announced a nonbinding agreement Tuesday night in which ESPN will acquire the NFL Network and other league media assets while the NFL gets a 10% equity stake in ESPN. ESPN has aired the NFL Draft since 1980. Next year's draft will be in Pittsburgh and is expected to attract massive crowds over the three days. The first round has had its own night since 2010.

WORDS: 485 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 6:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:664a69450b464307507ff2e32d69c236&mediaType=text

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BEHIND THE WHEEL: HYBRIDS UNDER $25K

Edmunds: The best used hybrid sedans for under $25,000

SUMMARY: Saving money by purchasing a lightly used car is easy, especially if it has a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. Edmunds experts agree, and according to them, the best used hybrid sedans for under $25,000 include compact cars with less than 25,000 miles on the odometer and roomier midsize cars with less than 50,000 miles. If you're ready to save money when you purchase a vehicle AND when you drive it, Edmunds recommends five used hybrid sedans that provide between 43 mpg and 54 mpg. Better yet, most of them boast top-notch safety ratings.

WORDS: 830 - MOVED: 08/06/2025 6:14 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2c87f77d9cd28b17ecb5a2126033ea04&mediaType=text

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