business and economy

Lou Mavrakis, mayor of Monessen, needs to tear down some 400 blighted homes and 30 downtown buildings. He says he's appealed to federal elected officials for help, but has been ignored.

Trump's anti-globalization message resonates in 'forgotten' Pennsylvania town

Donald Trump gave a fiery anti-trade, anti-globalization speech in Monessen, Pennsylvania, a few weeks back. And people in Monessen loved hearing it.

Trump's anti-globalization message resonates in 'forgotten' Pennsylvania town
Puerto Rican college students Nina Croatto, Tatiana Rodríguez (middle), and Paulina Colón (right) are participating in the summer leadership program, "Puerto Rican Minds in Action."

Young Puerto Ricans debate what it means to be Puerto Rican and American

Young Puerto Ricans debate what it means to be Puerto Rican and American
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo enters the room before the arrival of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at her New York presidential primary night rally in the Manhattan borough of New York City

New York's governor is lining up against the boycott Israel movement

New York's governor is lining up against the boycott Israel movement
Barges are moored together near the Eiffel Tower

Flooding exacerbates problems with strikes in France

Flooding exacerbates problems with strikes in France
Harwich solar panels

Doubling renewable energy by 2030 could save the global economy trillions of dollars every year

Doubling renewable energy by 2030 could save the global economy trillions of dollars every year
Venezuelan opposition leader and Governor of Miranda state Henrique Capriles (C) speaks during a rally

Venezuela's economic troubles have become a full-blown crisis

Venezuela's continuing struggles with economic malaise and the low price of oil are spilling out in the open with serious consequences — babies dying, consumer product shortages and a national leader being threatened with ouster.

Venezuela's economic troubles have become a full-blown crisis
Marchers hold up signs that say "Justice for farmworkers" and "We shall be heard."

Workers may unionize — but not farmworkers. A lawsuit in New York seeks to change that.

Farmworkers have been excluded from labor rights laws enacted in the Jim Crow era. Now, it’s largely immigrants who are excluded from organized labor's protections.

Workers may unionize — but not farmworkers. A lawsuit in New York seeks to change that.
Clouds of tear gas surround people near the Invalides monument during clashes between protesters and French police during a demonstration against French labor law reform in Paris. May 12, 2016.

France wants to make it easier to fire workers so employers will stop harassing them into quitting

Thousands of people have been protesting in France this week, as the government tries to pass a law making it easier for struggling businesses to fire their staff.

France wants to make it easier to fire workers so employers will stop harassing them into quitting
Military vehicles carrying DF-26 ballistic missiles travel past Tiananmen Gate during a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing.

Global military spending increased for the first time since 2011. Would you spend the money differently?

What if instead of increasing spending on the military, that money was spent in other ways. Use our interactive and find out how a cut in global military spending could fund projects like climate change mitigation or ending world hunger.

Global military spending increased for the first time since 2011. Would you spend the money differently?
Ali Jaffari and his wife, Wajiha, and son Shayan

For long-suffering refugees, a three-star respite

It's been a long journey, one that skirted death at least once. So Ali Jaffari at first thought it was a scam when a Greek friend offered his family of four a room at a three-star hotel in Athens.

For long-suffering refugees, a three-star respite
Crystal Cruises’ new luxury vessel

The Arctic is opening for business this summer when a cruise ship plies the Northwest Passage

But that cruise raises questions about whether we're making climate change worse.

The Arctic is opening for business this summer when a cruise ship plies the Northwest Passage
Hundreds protest on the Las Vegas Strip and in front of the Trump International Hotel. Workers are demanding a union contract at the Las Vegas hotel. April 21, 2016.

Las Vegas hotel workers take on Donald Trump

Workers at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas have cast their votes to unionize. But Donald Trump's hotel company is refusing to recognize the vote.

Las Vegas hotel workers take on Donald Trump
A worker paints a coffin at El Nuevo Renacer factory in Jucuapa, El Salvador.

In one of the deadliest countries in the world, there's one business thriving — the coffin industry

El Salvador is facing a record wave of murders. With 22 killings a day on average, the country has become one of the deadliest on the planet. El Salvador's economy isn't great either. But in the little town of Jucuapa, the coffin-making business is booming.

In one of the deadliest countries in the world, there's one business thriving — the coffin industry
bitcoin

He claims to have invented Bitcoin. Should we believe him?

An Australian computer scientist claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin. But one crypto-currency expert isn't convinced.

He claims to have invented Bitcoin. Should we believe him?
Indonesia exploding boats

Why Indonesia keeps blowing up boats on TV

And why the Indonesian public is eating it up.

Why Indonesia keeps blowing up boats on TV