Accessibility links
Business and Financial News Find the latest business news with reports on Wall Street, interest rates, banking, companies, and U.S. and world financial markets. Subscribe to the Business Story of the Day podcast.

Business

Pesticide Drift Threatens Organic Farms

Organic farmer Margot McMillen holds a grape leaf damaged by pesticide drift on her farm, Terra Bella Farm, in central Missouri. Kristofor Husted/Harvest Public Media hide caption

toggle caption
Kristofor Husted/Harvest Public Media

The Salt

Pesticide Drift Threatens Organic Farms

Farmers use millions of pounds of pesticides each year to protect crops from weeds and insects. When those chemicals drift to neighboring property, they can ruin crops on organic farms.

Pesticide Drift Threatens Organic Farms

Listen · 3:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427857297/428766592" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

Summer Olympics 2008 Host Beijing Awarded 2022 Winter Games

The International Olympic Committee has selected Beijing as the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics. It's the first city ever to host both summer and winter games.

Summer Olympics 2008 Host Beijing Awarded 2022 Winter Games

Listen · 2:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/428077305/428084969" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Hidden Brain

Why Peer Pressure Doesn't Add Up To Retirement Savings

People often do what their neighbors do. A firm decided to get more people to sign up for retirement plans by telling employees how many of their coworkers had signed up. What happened next?

Why Peer Pressure Doesn't Add Up To Retirement Savings

Listen · 3:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427990401/427990402" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Planet Money

Remembering When Driverless Elevators Drew Skepticism

These days, the idea of a driverless car makes a lot of people nervous. Our Planet Money team goes back in time when automatic elevators made people just as worried.

Remembering When Driverless Elevators Drew Skepticism

Listen · 3:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427990392/427990395" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
In Michigan, A Testing Ground For A Future Of Driverless Cars

A pedestrian crosses in front of a vehicle as part of a demonstration at Mcity on July 20, on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Mich. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Paul Sancya/AP

All Tech Considered

In Michigan, A Testing Ground For A Future Of Driverless Cars

Automakers and researchers are using a 32-acre fake city at the University of Michigan to simulate a real-world environment for autonomous vehicles. How will such cars affect urban planning?

In Michigan, A Testing Ground For A Future Of Driverless Cars

Listen · 3:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427733153/427990449" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
To Get Big-Rig Drivers, Senate Bill Would Give Keys To Teens

Eric Pennucci of Horizon Air Services, a Boston trucking firm, does not like the idea of 18-year-olds behind the wheel of tractor-trailers. Chris Arnold/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Arnold/NPR

To Get Big-Rig Drivers, Senate Bill Would Give Keys To Teens

Some trucking companies are having trouble finding enough interstate drivers. They say cutting the minimum driving age from 21 to 18 is a fix, but critics worry such a move would be a safety disaster.

To Get Big-Rig Drivers, Senate Bill Would Give Keys To Teens

Listen · 3:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427712873/427990414" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

Kazakhstan Promises 'Real Winter Wonderland' In Bid To Host 2022 Games

The International Olympic Committee will decide Friday whether to accept the bid by Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, to stage the 2022 Winter Games, or instead offer it to rival contender Beijing.

Kazakhstan Promises 'Real Winter Wonderland' In Bid To Host 2022 Games

Listen · 2:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427839926/427839927" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Energy

Shell Announces Plans To Eliminate 6,500 Jobs

Royal Dutch Shell has announced plans to eliminate 6,500 jobs as slumping oil prices force the industry to make adjustments. Shell's profits fell by more than 30 percent in the second quarter.

Shell Announces Plans To Eliminate 6,500 Jobs

Listen · 2:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427839977/427839990" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Asia

Despite Rising Costs, China Is Gung-Ho To Host 2022 Winter Olympics

Either China or Kazakhstan will be chosen on Friday as host of the 2022 Winter Olympics. European nations have been scared off by the cost of hosting the event, but China has the ambition and the money to match.

Despite Rising Costs, China Is Gung-Ho To Host 2022 Winter Olympics

Listen · 3:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427839919/427839920" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Debris Found In The Indian Ocean May Be From Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet

Investigators believe a piece of debris found on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean could be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared in March 2014.

Debris Found In The Indian Ocean May Be From Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet

Listen · 4:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/427839912/427839913" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Obama Orders Development Of Supercomputer To Rival China's 'Milky Way'

The Japanese supercomputer K, pictured in June 2012 at the RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science in Kobe, western Japan. The K computer is currently ranked No. 3 on a list of the 500 fastest supercomputers. Kyodo/Landov hide caption

toggle caption
Kyodo/Landov

The Two-Way

Obama Orders Development Of Supercomputer To Rival China's 'Milky Way'

It is hoped that the new supercomputer, expected to go online by 2025, would be the first "exascale" machine — some 20 times faster than today's fastest machine, called Tianhe-2 (Milky Way-2).