U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected four construction companies Thursday to erect prototypes of the Mexican border wall that President Donald Trump has said he intends to build to deter…
more ...Tesla Starts Production of Solar Cells in Buffalo, New York
Tesla Inc. is starting production of the cells for its solar roof tiles at its factory in Buffalo, New York. The company has already begun installing its solar roofs,…
more ...NAFTA Nations Plan Talks Progress Under Barrage of Trump Threats
Trade negotiators plan to take small steps forward in a second round of talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) this weekend, trying to ignore daily threats…
more ...French Labor Reform Gives Firms Flexibility
The French government said on Thursday it would cap unfair dismissal payouts and give companies more flexibility to adapt pay and working hours to market conditions in a labor reform…
more ...Trump’s Immigrant Crackdown Could Slow Houston Rebuilding
In the coming weeks, as Houston turns its attention to rebuilding areas devastated by Tropical Storm Harvey, people like Jay De Leon are likely to play an outsized role —…
more ...Michigan, North Dakota Among States Likely to be Hurt by NAFTA Changes
Michigan is likely to be the state most hurt by changes to the NAFTA trade agreement, according to a Fitch Ratings report released Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed…
more ...US-funded Ethiopian Abattoir Hopes to Help Herders During Drought
An abattoir located among herding communities in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region, known more for droughts and famine than business opportunities, is an unusual stop for a U.S. aid administrator. But…
more ...Change in US Policy Makes It Harder to Rebuild for Future Floods
Two weeks before Harvey’s floodwaters engulfed much of Houston, President Donald Trump quietly rolled back an order by his predecessor that would have made it easier for storm-ravaged communities to…
more ...IMF Says Transport, Food Costs Are Up in Qatar After Rift
The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that transportation and food costs in Qatar had “edged up” because of a diplomatic rift that led four Arab countries to cut ties with…
more ...Waiting, Watching: Business Owners Worry About Harvey Damage
With the animals sent to safety before Harvey hit, the owners of CityVet in Houston kept watch on their empty practice by security camera, hoping not to see floodwaters rush…
more ...Jordan, Iraq Reopen Main Border Crossing on Baghdad to Amman Highway
Tureibil, Iraq’s main international border crossing with Jordan and a key trade route, officially reopened Wednesday after being officially closed for three years. Privately-owned U.S. security firms, along with Iraqi…
more ...Harvey May Cut US Economic Growth as It Boosts Gasoline Prices
Energy companies, homeowners, and others are calculating the cost of Hurricane Harvey, which has already boosted gasoline prices and may slow the growth of the huge U.S. economy. Gasoline prices…
more ...Alexa, Cortana Talk to Each Other in Amazon-Microsoft Deal
Microsoft and Amazon are pairing their voice assistants together in a collaboration announced Wednesday. Both companies say later this fall, users will be able to access Alexa using Cortana on…
more ...Peru Opposition Leader Investigated in Connection With Odebrecht
The Peruvian attorney general’s office has opened a criminal probe into opposition leader Keiko Fujimori for allegedly laundering money for scandal-plagued Brazilian builder Odebrecht, Fujimori’s attorney said on Tuesday. The…
more ...Harvey’s Floods Scatter Cattle in Texas, Swamp Cotton Fields
South Texas ranchers are scrambling to relocate cattle from massive flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Harvey, with many hauling livestock up to the north of the state while others rush…
more ...World’s Biggest Drone Drug Deliveries Take Off in Tanzania
Tanzania is set to launch the world’s largest drone delivery network in January, with drones parachuting blood and medicines out of the skies to save lives. California’s Zipline will make…
more ...Study: Cereal, Drink Companies Often Overlook Risk of Forced Labor in Sugarcane
Food and beverage companies face the risk of forced labor in countries where they obtain sugarcane but most fall short in efforts to tackle the problem that threatens millions of…
more ...With Harvey Looming, Traders Rush to Ship Oil From Louisiana
Oil traders were scrambling Tuesday to move crude and fuel supplies through ports in Louisiana as Tropical Storm Harvey barreled toward the state, threatening to close the last major oil…
more ...Are Consumers Ready to Give Augmented Reality a Try?
You might have gotten a taste of “augmented reality,” the blending of the virtual and physical worlds, as you chased on-screen monsters at real-world landmarks in last year’s gaming sensation,…
more ...World Bank: Tackle Middle East Water Scarcity to Save Money, Boost Stability
The Middle East and North Africa region loses about $21 billion each year because of an inadequate supply of water and sanitation, the World Bank said Tuesday, warning that urgent…
more ...US Gearing Up for Digital Arms Race
In the straight-laced world of the U.S. military, the big room with glossy white paint stands out. Beyond the desks lined with computer screens, the overhead projectors or the digital…
more ...Pizza Delivery Without Drivers: Domino’s, Ford Team Up for Test
No ring of the doorbell, just a text. No tip for the driver? No problem in this test, where Domino’s and Ford are teaming up to see if customers will…
more ...Lifeguard in the Sky Soon to Be Monitoring Australian Beaches
It is still true that a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a shark; but, that does not matter much to the 150 or…
more ...From Hotel to Beer Factory, Robots Increasingly Used in Japan
Japan leads the world in the number of robots per person that are used in the workplace. Instead of being wary, people apparently like them. VOA’s Deborah Block takes us…
more ...Sky High Lifeguard Soon to be Monitoring Australian Beaches
It is still true that a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a shark; but, that does not matter much to the 150 or…
more ...Prepping for Future With Drought-resistant Wheat
There are two ways to deal with climate change: stop or slow it through controlling emissions, or adapt to it. Chances are we’re going to have to do both. In…
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