NEW YORK (AP) - Losses for several banks and Big Tech stocks pulled indexes lower on Wednesday, even though the majority of stocks on Wall Street rose. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% for its second straight loss after setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 42 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1%.

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union’s executive arm on Wednesday unveiled detailed proposals to protect farmers from being undercut by imports from South America as it seeks to build support for its deal with the Mercosur trade alliance.

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union will dedicate most of a massive new loan program to Ukraine’s military needs over the next two years while also injecting billions into its war-ravaged economy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. EU leaders agreed last month to loan Ukraine 90 billion euros ($105 billion) to help cover its needs in 2026 and 2027.

SAO PAULO (AP) - Mexico, Chile and Uruguay have halted poultry imports from Brazil after the country confirmed its first bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm, authorities said Saturday.

HONG KONG (AP) – China’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s onslaught of higher tariffs. China’s exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) - In the soaring palace of Uruguay's parliament, leftist presidents from the region came to remember former President Jose Mujica on Thursday as a generous and charismatic leader whose legacy of humility remained an example for the world's politicians.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

BEIJING (AP) - China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region.