Posts by Newsmaker

For Cambodian Techies, US Tour Ends With Vision of Startup at Home

For Cambodian Techies, US Tour Ends With Vision of Startup at Home

At home in Phnom Penh, the five techies knew of each other by reputation but had never met. After three...

In Fukushima Cleanup, It’s Human Nature vs. Science

In Fukushima Cleanup, It’s Human Nature vs. Science

More than six years after a tsunami overwhelmed the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Japan has yet to reach consensus on...

After the Wildfires, California Winemakers Open for Business

After the Wildfires, California Winemakers Open for Business

Wildfires that swept through Northern California in early October killed 42 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and caused an estimated...

US Black Friday, Thanksgiving Online Sales Hit Record

US Black Friday, Thanksgiving Online Sales Hit Record

Black Friday and Thanksgiving online sales in the United States surged to record highs as shoppers bagged deep discounts and...

On Monday, Who’s the Boss at Consumer Rights Agency?

On Monday, Who’s the Boss at Consumer Rights Agency?

Who’s the boss? That’s the awkward question after the departing head of a government agency charged with looking after consumer...

What’s On the Menu? Augmented Reality and 3-D Food Models

What’s On the Menu? Augmented Reality and 3-D Food Models

At Vino Levantino wine bar in New York City, the desserts are delicious but not always so straightforward. “We have...

Startup Hopes to Show 3-D Versions of Menu Items

Startup Hopes to Show 3-D Versions of Menu Items

It’s not always easy to know what to order when dining out, especially with exotic or foreign cuisines. But a...

Head of Consumer Watchdog Names Successor, Trump Names Another

Head of Consumer Watchdog Names Successor, Trump Names Another

The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Friday and named his own successor, leading to an open conflict...

Trump Wants to End Welfare of Clinton Era

Trump Wants to End Welfare of Clinton Era

Overhauling welfare was one of the defining goals of Bill Clinton’s presidency, starting with a campaign promise to “end welfare...

Even in Amazon Era, Black Friday Shows Stores Are Alive

Even in Amazon Era, Black Friday Shows Stores Are Alive

Retailers worked hard to attract shoppers to stores on Black Friday, offering in-person deals meant to counter the ease of...

Amazon Workers in Germany, Italy Stage Black Friday Strike

Amazon Workers in Germany, Italy Stage Black Friday Strike

Workers at a half dozen Amazon distribution centers in Germany and one in Italy walked off the job Friday, in...

Black Friday Kicks Off Holiday Shopping  Season

Black Friday Kicks Off Holiday Shopping  Season

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally has started the holiday shopping season in the United States. It refers to...

Seeing Microscopic Creatures from Space

Seeing Microscopic Creatures from Space

The oceans and lakes are full of life, and most of it is not visible to the naked eye. In...

Chinese Theme Park Seeks to Ride Boom in Demand for Virtual Entertainment

Chinese Theme Park Seeks to Ride Boom in Demand for Virtual Entertainment

Giant robots and futuristic cyberpunk castles rise out of lush mountain slopes on the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of...

Russian Tech Firm Wins US Intel Prize

Russian Tech Firm Wins US Intel Prize

Amid concerns about Russian hacking and online influence, Russian technology firm NtechLab has won a prize awarded by the United...

Tech Firms Scrounging for Skilled Workers Training Their Own

Tech Firms Scrounging for Skilled Workers Training Their Own

Some information technology companies are growing so concerned about not find enough digital talent that they’re training their own.  ...

Fall of China’s Former Internet Censor Highlights Frustrations Over Controls

Fall of China’s Former Internet Censor Highlights Frustrations Over Controls

The former face of China’s “Great Firewall,” Lu Wei, has become the first “tiger” to come under the Communist Party’s...

Retailers Look to Woo Shoppers from Rivals as Amazon Grows

Retailers Look to Woo Shoppers from Rivals as Amazon Grows

Toys and TVs at J.C. Penney, Barbies at Best Buy, kitchen appliances like wine refrigerators at B.J.’s. As the holiday...

Hopes, Fears in $10 Billion Wisconsin Foxconn Deal

Hopes, Fears in $10 Billion Wisconsin Foxconn Deal

When Gonzalo Perez bought the Castlewood Restaurant last December, it was one of the few outposts among the nearby corn...

Coffee-Based Fuel to Power London Buses

Coffee-Based Fuel to Power London Buses

A startup is making fuel from waste coffee grounds to power some of London’s buses. VOA’s Steve Baragona reports. …

Facebook to Let Users See Whether They ‘Liked’ Russian Accounts

Facebook to Let Users See Whether They ‘Liked’ Russian Accounts

Facebook Inc. said Wednesday that it would build a web page to allow users to see which Russian propaganda accounts...

Hopes, Fears in $10 Billion Deal to Bring Taiwanese Manufacturer to Wisconsin

Hopes, Fears in $10 Billion Deal to Bring Taiwanese Manufacturer to Wisconsin

The $10 billion-dollar deal to bring a Taiwanese-based electronics manufacturer to Wisconsin is raising questions from critics despite the promise...