National Business

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, but he said he didn’t expect the 10-week-old conflict to “drag on this way.

CALGARY — Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.'s profits more than doubled from a year ago in the first quarter, as surging oil prices pushed the Calgary-based energy company closer to reaching its debt reduction target.

MONTREAL — Resolute Forest Products Inc. is reporting stronger results in its latest quarter on gains in its pulp and paper sectors from improved pricing and the idling of a U.S. mill. The forestry company, which keeps its books in U.S.

GATINEAU, Que. — A senior Bank of Canada official says the central bank will reach out to Indigenous groups over the next two years to help it define what economic reconciliation means and what its role should be.

MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. bolstered its business jet backlog in its first quarter, ramping up cash flow as more wealthy high-fliers opt for private plane travel in the COVID-19 era. The company increased its backlog of private jet orders by US$1.

OTTAWA — Whether it's sneaking off to a secret fishing hole, afternoons towing squealing kids on a tube or lazy sunset cruises, for many, summer means time out on a boat.

SASKATOON — Cameco Corp. reported a first-quarter profit of $40 million compared with a loss of $5 million a year ago as its revenue rose 37 per cent compared with a year ago, helped by higher prices.

LONDON (AP) — OPEC and allied oil-producing countries decided Thursday to gradually increase the flows they send to the world, even as Europe’s plan to sanction Russian oil threatens to yank millions of barrels off a global market already thirsty for

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week but the total number of people collecting jobless aid is at its lowest level in more than 50 years. Jobless claims in the U.S.

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England raised its key interest rate to the highest level in 13 years on Thursday as policymakers around the world combat inflation fueled by high energy prices, Russia's war in Ukraine and lingering concerns about COVID-19.