Analysts: More Robots, Greater Risk of Slavery in Asia

The rise of robots in manufacturing in Southeast Asia is likely to fuel modern slavery as workers who end up unemployed thanks to automation face abuses competing for a shrinking pool of low-paid jobs in a “race to the bottom,” analysts said Thursday. Drastic job losses because of the growth of automation in the region, …

Senate Confirms Pick for Justice Department Criminal Division Chief

The Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to confirm a lawyer who briefly represented a Russian bank with ties to the Kremlin to head the Justice Department’s criminal division. The confirmation of Brian Benczkowski came two days after Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee urged President Donald Trump to pull his nomination, saying Benczkowski’s lack …

NASA Commercial Crew Program for Space Station Faces Delays, Report Says

Plans to launch the first NASA astronauts since 2011 to the International Space Station from the United States look set to be delayed due to incomplete safety measures and accountability holes in the agency’s commercial crew program, according to a federal report released on Wednesday. SpaceX and Boeing Co are the two main contractors selected …

Japanese PM Visits Flood Disaster Zone, New Warnings Issued

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited flood-stricken parts of Japan on Wednesday as the death toll from the worst weather disaster in 36 years reached 176 and health worries increased amid scorching heat and the threat of new floods. Torrential rain unleashed floods and landslides in western Japan last week, bringing death and destruction in particular …

Tehran Official Says Iran Has ‘Epidemic’ of Municipal Corruption

A municipal leader in the Iranian capital, Tehran, has made an unusual acknowledgement of mass corruption by municipal workers around the country, calling it an epidemic. In an interview with Iranian state news agency ISNA published on Monday, Tehran City Council chairman Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani said municipalities committed 26,000 corruption offenses involving construction and zoning …

France Advances to 2018 World Cup Final with 1-0 Win Over Belgium

Samuel Umtiti’s goal in the 51st minute was all the scoring France needed to defeat Belgium and advance to the final of the 2018 World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Umtiti’s corner kick on a header capped a sterling defensive effort by the Frenchmen in St. Petersburg Stadium, highlighted by goalkeeper Hugo Loris, who made …

Israeli Police Again Question Netanyahu over Alleged Corruption

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces three investigations over alleged corruption, was questioned again by police over a case involving Israel’s largest telecoms firm on Tuesday, Army Radio said. The authorities allege Netanyahu awarded regulatory favors to Bezeq Telecom Israel in return for favorable coverage of him and his wife on a news site …

EU Chief Warns Trump to ‘Appreciate Your Allies’

European Council President Donald Tusk responded forcefully to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim NATO member nations do not spend enough money to defend themselves. In a tweet Tusk wrote, “Dear @realDonaldTrump. US doesn’t have and won’t have a better ally than EU. We spend on defense much more than Russia and as much as China. …

Friend or Foe at NATO? Who Knows When Trump Comes to Dinner

When Donald Trump walks into a NATO summit Wednesday, international politics are bound to become intensely personal — again. Since moving into the White House almost 18 months ago, the U.S. president has been as abrasive with some of America’s most trusted allies as he has been warm toward traditional adversaries like North Korea and …

Tusk To Trump: ‘Appreciate Your Allies’

European Council President Donald Tusk has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to value Europe’s cooperation with the United States on defense, saying, “America does not have, and will not have, a better ally than Europe.” Tusk made the statement in Brussels on July 10 after signing a joint EU-NATO declaration. His comments followed Trump’s …

Japan’s Nissan Admits to Falsifying Emissions Data

An internal review has revealed that Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan falsified data on emissions and fuel economy reports for vehicles produced and sold in Japan, according to a statement the company released Monday. The automaker said the data was altered to meet the company’s stricter internal standards.  All cars except for one model — the …