WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy is clearly, if slowly, recovering on President Barack Obama's watch and robbing Republicans of a central argument against Democrats.

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — The truck driver whose oversized load is blamed for causing last night's bridge collapse in Washington state was "just horrified" when he saw what happened.

ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi's figure looms large over Rome's mayoral elections this weekend, even though the former premier isn't among the 19 candidates running.

WALL STREET

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency in three counties around a collapsed Interstate 5 bridge.

GENEVA (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in Switzerland to seal a free trade pact with the Alpine nation — the first comprehensive agreement his country has reached with a major western economy.

HAVANA (AP) — Official silence is surrounding the trial of a Canadian businessman involved in a corruption probe in Cuba as the proceedings enter their second day.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's Rafael Correa is starting a third term as president under seemingly ideal conditions: extremely high popularity, a more than two-thirds majority in Congress, a stable economy and a badly splintered opposition.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A look at legislation passed in Turkey's parliament early Friday that would ban all alcohol advertising and tighten restrictions on the sale of such beverages, and how such a law could affect tourists and liquor companies in the mainly Muslim but secular country.

GENEVA (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in Switzerland to sign a free trade pact with the Alpine nation — the first comprehensive agreement the country has reached with a major western economy.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A look at legislation passed in Turkey's parliament early Friday that would ban all alcohol advertising and tighten restrictions on the sale of such beverages, and how such a law could affect tourists and liquor companies in the mainly Muslim but secular country.

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — In a story May 21 about U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visiting Mozambique, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Mozambique became independent in 1974, instead of 1975.

NEW YORK (AP) — On Wall Street, trading was volatile Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day just 12.67 points lower, at 15,294.50. It fell as much as 127 points during the first hour of trading. U.S. markets plummeted immediately after Thursday's opening bell following a global slump prompted partly by an unexpected slowdown in Chinese manufacturing. Concern that the Federal Reserve might ease back on its economic stimulus program sooner than expected had also riled investors. Futures trading suggest a muted opening today.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan has lowered its economic growth forecast for 2013 to a muted 2.4 percent as global demand for the island's electronics exports remained subdued.

PARIS (AP) — France's finance minister says the government is no longer planning to cap executives' salaries in the private sector, amid concerns it is antagonizing the big businesses needed to reinvigorate the economy.

BERLIN (AP) — A closely watched survey shows that German business confidence rebounded this month — an unexpectedly strong showing that sends a hopeful signal for Europe's biggest economy.

WALL STREET

BERLIN (AP) — A survey is showing a significant rise in German consumer confidence as people's expectations for the economy and for their own income improve.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's top leaders are defending the economic strategies championed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, though the central bank chief acknowledged a need for better communication with financial markets, a day after Tokyo shares suffered their worst loss since the 2011 tsunami disaster.

NEW YORK (AP) — Investors recovered their poise after a shaky start to trading on Wall Street that sent stocks sharply lower. U.S. markets plummeted immediately after the opening bell following a global slump prompted partly by an unexpected slowdown in Chinese manufacturing. Concern that the Federal Reserve might ease back on its economic stimulus program sooner than expected had also riled investors. The Dow ended the day just 12.67 points lower. It fell as much as 127 points during the first hour of trading.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are little changed in afternoon trading on Wall Street, as worries about a global economic slump are offset by encouraging news about the U.S. economy. Sales of new homes rose in April to the second-highest level since the summer of 2008, the median price for a new home hit a record high, and the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week.

WALL STREET

MILAN (AP) — La Scala has reduced the number of operas it will stage during the 2013-14 season due to Italy's economic crisis, the theater's general manager said Thursday.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's main opposition party marked a bittersweet 150th birthday on Thursday — trailing badly in polls ahead of September elections and hearing praise for its efforts to reform Europe's biggest economy from French President Francois Hollande, a recent left-wing winner who has lost his luster.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's main opposition party marked a bittersweet 150th birthday on Thursday — trailing badly in polls ahead of September elections and hearing praise for its efforts to reform Europe's biggest economy from French President Francois Hollande, a recent left-wing winner who has lost his luster.