Researchers, advocates rail against government's efforts to end workforce data collection
Civil rights groups and researchers pleaded at a public hearing Tuesday for a federal agency to continue its annual collection of workplace demographic data. Twenty-two speakers testified at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s hearing, which lasted more than two hours. Most opposed the proposal to toss a 60-year-old requirement for tens of thousands of private sector employers to submit annual workforce demographic reports to the EEOC. Six speakers, however, sided with the Trump administration’s stance that reporting such data is burdensome and encourages companies to adopt discriminatory practices to diversity their workforces.
Hiroshi Okuda, who led Toyota's climb as a global automaker, dies at 93
TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshi Okuda, the former chief executive of Toyota who led the Japanese automaker’s stellar rise in global markets, has died at 93. The company confirmed his death Wednesday but did not give the date or the cause of his death. Okuda was president then chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. from 1995 through 2006. In his 45-year career at Toyota, Okuda is especially remembered for having led the development of the gas-electric hybrid Prius in 1997, a model with the fuel-efficient technology that was ground-breaking at that time. Okuda was key in leading Toyota’s global expansion, setting up manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Europe.
Shares are mostly higher in Asia, with Kospi up 4%, while oil prices gain
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares are mostly higher in Asia and U.S. futures have edged higher, while oil prices advanced. South Korea's Kospi index jumped 4% on a rebound for computer chipmakers. Samsung Electronics gained 7.7% and memory chipmaker SK Hynix was up 7.1%. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 fell 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%. The Nasdaq composite sank 0.6%. The price for a barrel of Brent crude was about $89, up nearly 1%. Higher oil prices make inflation worse. That has investors focused on Wednesday's release of the latest monthly reading on inflation in the U.S. Economists expect it to show inflation slipped to 3.4% in July from 3.5% in June.
US existing homes fall 1.7% in July as record prices, high mortgage rates stifle would be-buyers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed again in July as record prices and the highest mortgage rates in more than a year prove to be an insurmountable hurdle for many prospective homebuyers. The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that existing home sales fell 1.7% last month from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million units. July sales, however, were up 0.7% compared with last year. Home prices continued to rise, hitting unprecedented levels for July. The U.S. median sales price increased 2% from a year earlier, to $434,100.
Federal safety agency issues final report into 2025 blast that killed 2 at Pennsylvania steel plant
A federal safety agency has issued its final report into a 2025 blast at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh that left two workers dead. The blast at the Clairton Coke Works plant occurred after a gas valve being flushed with pressurized water ruptured. The report by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board recommends that U.S. Steel develop a written procedure for washing valves with pressurized water in order to minimize the operation’s hazards. The report says the valve that failed was more than 70 years old and made from brittle cast iron. U.S. Steel previously was fined more than $118,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Chinese automaker Chery buys Nissan plant in Africa as EV production shifts to new markets
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Chinese automakers are increasingly shifting from exporting vehicles to Africa to assembling them there as they target the continent’s fast growing population, rising middle class and expanding demand for affordable electric vehicles. Chery Automobile has acquired Japanese automaker Nissan Motor’s former South African plant, part of a broader trend driven by supportive government policies, trade barriers in Western markets and China’s industrial overcapacity. Analysts say Africa is increasingly positioned to become more than just a destination for imported vehicles. Local production could boost jobs, lower vehicle costs and build EV supply chains. However, infrastructure gaps and policy uncertainty remain major challenges.
India’s small steelmakers could save money and cut emissions with switch to renewable power
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Switching to renewable energy can help smaller steel companies reduce electricity costs and cut millions of tons of carbon emissions. A report released Thursday by a consortium of environmental groups found renewable electricity could reduce their annual power costs by $250,000 to $275,000 per unit, or up to 34%. Profit margins at many of India’s smaller steel companies have been affected by rising fuel costs from the Iran war. The steel sector accounts for as much as 12% of India’s annual emissions. Decarbonizing the sector is essential to meet India's net-zero emission goal by 2070. Shifting to clean power also could help shield the companies from European carbon taxes that took effect this year.
Heading off to college? Here are some tips for managing your finances
NEW YORK (AP) — Heading off to college is exciting, but it also comes with new responsibilities. Experts say it's a great time to start building credit, budgeting, and managing money. One place to start is building your credit score by responsibly using a credit card. You should also budget as much as you can, even if your income sources are irregular. Experts also recommend creating an emergency fund, discussing finances with friends, planning for student loans, and using campus resources. Mistakes will happen, but learning from them is key.
Vietnam’s VinSpace signs deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027, marking a big step in Vietnam’s efforts to develop its space industry. The satellites will fly on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission, which carries multiple customers’ satellites on one rocket. VinSpace, part of the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, will develop, manufacture and operate the satellites to test its technologies in orbit and support future commercial applications. Established in November 2025, VinSpace aims to become a full-service aerospace company. Its parent, Vingroup, is expanding into high-tech industries including electric vehicles, space, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Toyota recalls 655K Camrys over display error that may deactivate turn signals and other indicators
CHICAGO (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 655,000 Camry vehicles globally due to a display error that may deactivate safety indicators. Most of these cars were sold in the U.S., affecting over 508,000 model year 2025-2026 Camry Hybrids. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the 7-inch display can become blank at startup — and that safety indicators like turn signals and hazard lights may also not function as a result. This increases crash risks. Toyota will notify owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer for a free software update. The company confirmed its recall affects markets in North America, the Middle East, Asia and some countries in other regions.
