Business

CHIBA, Japan — Hatsune Miku has always been 16 years old and worn long aqua ponytails. She is Japan’s most famous Vocaloid — a computer-synthesized singing voice software that, in her case, comes with a virtual avatar. Legions of fans…

SAN FRANCISCO TEPEYACAC, Mexico — One family in central Mexico is struggling to preserve the production of cochineal dye, an intense, natural red pigment so prized that, after gold and silver, it was probably the most valuable thing the Spaniards…

TAIPEI, Taiwan — As People’s Liberation Army fighter jets from China sped toward Taiwan on Friday, life on the self-governing island carried on as normal. Andy Huang, a restaurateur in Taipei, said he has become desensitized to military threats from…

LONDON — Mohamed Al Fayed, the flamboyant Egypt-born businessman whose son was killed in a car crash with Princess Diana, died this week, his family said Friday. He was 94. Al Fayed, the longtime owner of Harrods department store and…

A company representing nearly 15 million cable subscribers and The Walt Disney Co. blamed each other Friday for a dispute that has cut off Disney-owned stations to viewers on the eve of a big sports weekend for U.S. Open tennis…

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Louisiana company will receive $2.6 million to relinquish the last remaining oil and gas lease on U.S. forest land near Montana’s Glacier National Park that’s sacred to Native Americans, government officials and attorneys involved in the…

Stocks edged higher on Wall Street after a choppy day of trading. The market got a boost early on after a closely watched report signaled that the job market, while still healthy, has been showing some signs of cooling. The…

JACKSON, Miss. — As Brett Favre became ensnared in media attention for his connection to Mississippi’s sprawling welfare scandal, Gov. Tate Reeves’ brother suggested the state official investigating the case praise the retired NFL quarterback. Screen shots of text messages…

NEW YORK — Interest on federal student loans has started accumulating again after a three-year pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. You still have at least another month before you’ll need to start paying back your loans, so don’t panic.…

SAN FRANCISCO — Silicon Valley billionaires behind a secretive $800 million land-buying spree in Northern California have finally released some details about their plans for a new green city, but they still must win over skeptical voters and local leaders.…