Apprenticeship program aims to attract truck drivers
New partnership delivers tracking solutions for fleets
U.S. launches auto import probe, China says will defend interests
The Trump administration has launched a national security investigation into car and truck imports that could lead to new U.S. tariffs similar to those imposed on imported steel and aluminum in March. The national security probe under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 would investigate whether vehicle and parts imports were threatening the industry's health and ability to research and develop new, advanced technologies, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. Higher tariffs could be particularly painful for Asian automakers including Toyota Motor Corp , Nissan Motor Co , Honda Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co , which count the United States as a key market, and the announcement sparked a broad sell-off in automakers' shares across the region.
NKorea hits Pence ‘stupid’ remarks, threatens to quit summit
North Korea has renewed its threat to pull out of a summit next month with President Donald Trump, saying it is just as ready to meet in a nuclear confrontation as at the negotiating table. Pyongyang's latest salvo follows recent comments by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence suggesting the North may end up like Libya if it doesn't move forward with denuclearization. Choe Son Hui, the vice minister of foreign affairs, was quoted Thursday by the North's state-run news agency slamming as "ignorant" and "stupid" comments Pence made in an interview with Fox News that compared North Korea to Libya, saying they showed he does not understand North Korea's situation.
Hawaii volcano generates blue flames from burning methane
Blue flames from burning methane are the latest natural phenomena being seen at the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Nighttime photos released Wednesday by the U.S. Geological Survey show the flames spouting from cracks in the pavement in the Leilani Estates neighborhood where the volcano has been gushing lava on the big island of Hawaii for the past three weeks. The volcano produces methane when hot lava buries and burns plants and trees.
Alibaba’s Tiny Loss-Making Unit Suddenly Soars 70%
A stock that until last week wasn't covered by a single analyst has rallied 70 percent since May 16 for no apparent reason, at one point generating more turnover than some of Hong Kong's biggest companies. The sudden gains have made Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd. -- a subsidiary of Chinese megacap Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. -- easily the best performing stock on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index this month. Some $135 million worth of shares exchanged hands on May 17, making it the fifth-most traded stock in Hong Kong and surpassing giants including HSBC Holdings Plc, PetroChina Co. and Bank of China Ltd., which are more than 20 times as valuable.
Amazon, Starbucks pledge money to repeal Seattle head tax
Amazon, Starbucks, Vulcan and other companies have pledged a total of more than $350,000 toward an effort to repeal Seattle's newly passed tax on large employers intended to combat homelessness. Just days after the Seattle City Council approved the levy, the No Tax On Jobs campaign, a coalition of businesses, announced it would gather signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot to repeal it. The Washington Food Industry Association pledged $30,000.