Business Highlights

Some participants voiced a high degree of concern over the global economy, saying the recent turbulence in financial markets — which saw the Dow plunge over 500 points on Wednesday — was akin to a "meltdown."

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — With many barriers to dealing with Iran suddenly lifted as part of a nuclear deal, some European companies are ready to seize business opportunities in a tempting market of 78.5 million people.

At first glance, the allure is obvious — Iran is the second-largest economy in the region, the second most populous country and it has infrastructure and vehicles overdue for an upgrade after years of sanctions.

[...] those companies that take the plunge face serious risks from the remaining sanctions, geopolitical uncertainty, red tape and corruption.

NOFEI PRAT, West Bank (AP) — Airbnb is coming under Palestinian criticism for listings that fail to mention the property is in a West Bank settlement, on occupied land claimed by the Palestinians.

[...] criticism puts Airbnb in the crosshairs of an increasingly aggressive global boycott movement and has injected a dose of Mideast politics into the sharing economy.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew stressed on Wednesday during a visit to Puerto Rico that congressional action is the only solution to pulling the U.S. territory out of its worsening economic crisis.

NEW YORK (AP) — The vast majority of Wal-Mart's U.S. employees will get raises as part of the world's largest retailer's previously announced commitment to invest in its workforce as it faces pressure from labor-backed groups and seeks to retain workers in a tighter labor force.

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into complaints that doors won't latch properly on about 400,000 Ford Focus compact cars, including some reports that the doors have opened while the cars are moving.

The probe by the National