The top Republican lawmaker on tax policy in the U.S. House of Representatives said Tuesday that he was working with the White House and Treasury to develop a new 10 percent middle-class tax…
more ...US Tech Companies Reconsider Saudi Investment
The controversy over the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has shined a harsh light on the growing financial ties between Silicon Valley and the world’s largest oil exporter.…
more ...Low-tech Tools Can Fight Land Corruption, Experts Say
Technological solutions to prevent land corruption require resources, but they do not have to be expensive, land rights experts said Tuesday. Satellite imagery, cloud computing and blockchain are among technologies with the potential to…
more ...Syria’s Food Production Hits 29-Year Low
A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program finds extreme weather conditions in Syria have caused the lowest production of wheat and barley for nearly three…
more ...First Sign Language Starbucks Opens in Washington DC
Coffee drinkers in the nation’s capital can now order that tall pumpkin spice iced skim latte in sign language. Starbucks has opened its first U.S. “signing store” to better serve…
more ...Wall Street Indices Fall; Oil Tumbles on Demand Worries
Wall Street indexes fell in Tuesday’s volatile session, though they pared losses sharply by the closing bell as investors looked for bargains. Oil dropped sharply on demand worries. After falling as much…
more ...Apple Offers a Range of iPhones, From $450 to $1,100
Apple’s new iPhone XR has most of the features found in the top-of-the-line iPhone XS Max, but not its $1,100 price tag. The XR offers the right trade-offs for just…
more ...Twitter Removes Accounts Linked to Alex Jones, Infowars
Twitter has removed some accounts thought to be used to circumvent a ban on conspiracy-monger Alex Jones and Infowars, the company said Tuesday. A Twitter spokesman confirmed that the accounts…
more ...An Avatar Is Going to Help Police Guard European Borders
A new artificial intelligence program could make land borders across Europe more secure. When a pilot program begins next month, an avatar – called i-Border-Control – will help police guard…
more ...US Regulator Orders Halt to Self-Driving School Bus Test in Florida
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday said it had ordered Transdev North America to immediately stop transporting schoolchildren in Florida in a driverless shuttle as the testing could…
more ...Individual Cooling Units Could Save Lives
The World Health Organization is closely watching the Ebola outbreak in Congo where the number of cases has risen to 185 since the outbreak started in August. One of the…
more ...Foreigners Sold Net $1.1 BLN of Saudi Stocks in Week to Oct 18
Foreigners sold a net 4.01 billion riyal ($1.07 billion) in Saudi stocks in the week ending Oct. 18, exchange data showed on Sunday – one of the biggest selloff since…
more ...Tiny Wind Turbines Offer Sustainable Urban Alternative to Large Fans
When you think of wind energy, you tend to think of the massive constructs that dot hilly landscapes or the ocean horizon. But two researchers see a future where it’s…
more ...Using Tech to Save World’s Most Endangered Species in Tanzania
In Tanzania, protecting endangered animals has become easier thanks to Earth Ranger. Earth Ranger is not a superhero, it’s a technology platform, developed by Vulcan Inc., a company co-founded by…
more ...IMF Reaches Deal with Ukraine on New $4 Billion, 14-Month Loan
The International Monetary Fund announced Friday it had reached an agreement with Ukraine on economic policies that would unlock a new loan deal that will provide nearly $4 billion. The…
more ...Financial Watchdog: Regulate Cryptocurrencies Now, Or Else
A global financial body says governments worldwide must establish rules for virtual currencies like bitcoin to stop criminals from using them to launder money or finance terrorism. The Financial Action…
more ...Former Deputy UK Leader Nick Clegg Takes Post with Facebook
Facebook has hired former U.K. deputy prime minister Nick Clegg to head its global policy and communications teams, enlisting a veteran of European Union politics to help it with increased…
more ...French Startup Offers Visions of Damaged Middle Eastern Cities
The Syrian government says the ancient city of Palmyra, gravely damaged by IS militants, could reopen to the public next spring. But, while restoration continues on the ground, one French…
more ...Women-to-Women Business Fund Comes to Britain
A women-to-women investment fund is coming to Britain next month to boost financing for female-owned businesses, its founder said Thursday, as efforts grow to close the gender investing gap. SheEO…
more ...Data Project Aims to Stop Human Trafficking Before It Occurs
Computer giant IBM Corp., financial services company Western Union Co. and European police launched a project Thursday to share financial data that they said may one day be able to predict human trafficking…
more ...US Stocks Slide on Saudi Arabia, Italy Concerns
U.S. stocks fell more than 1 percent on Thursday as the European Commission issued a warning regarding Italy’s budget and concerns mounted about the possibility of strained relations between the United States and…
more ...Russian Firms Test Non-Dollar Deals to Sidestep US Sanctions
Several major Russian companies are exploring ways to do deals abroad without using dollars, spurred on by a U.S. threat to broaden sanctions that have impeded access of some Russian…
more ...Warsaw Taxis Hold Anti-Uber Go Slow
Hundreds of taxis on Thursday drove at a snail’s pace across the Polish capital Warsaw in protest at the ride-sharing app Uber and other unlicenced competitors. Other cab drivers gathered…
more ...Mnuchin Pulls US Out of Saudi Investment Conference
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has pulled out of an investment conference next week in Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh continues to face questions about its involvement in the disappearance and…
more ...Rural Americans Struggle with Poor Broadband Access
Even in the country that invented the internet, access has remained painfully slow for many rural residents in places like the central state of Arkansas, far from the big cities…
more ...Facebook’s Election ‘War Room’ Takes Aim at Fake Information
In an otherwise innocuous part of Facebook’s expansive Silicon Valley campus, a locked door bears a taped-on sign that reads “War Room.” Behind the door lies a nerve center the…
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