French reforms prompt protests
PARIS — Paris riot police ousted students seeking to occupy Sorbonne university and strikes shut down the Eiffel Tower and two-thirds of French trains — all part of a season of simmering national discontent.
Much of the anger centers on President Emmanuel Macron, but he went on national TV on Thursday to declare that strikes and protests won't prevent him from overhauling France's economy so it can better compete. Rail workers resumed a strike Friday that will disrupt travel through June.
President wants Postal Service study
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order establishing a task force to study the United States Postal Service.
The order does not specifically mention online shopping giant Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post.
But Trump has been railing against the company, tweeting wrongly that, “Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon” and that “this will be changed.”
China is spared ‘manipulator’ tag
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is again declining to name China as a currency manipulator, but it did target that country and four other nations for special monitoring of practices that the administration said was making America's trade deficit worse.
In a report the administration must issue every six months, it said that no country met the criteria to be branded as a currency manipulator.
Crown Castle, AT&T sign deal
AT&T and Houston-based wireless infrastructure provider Crown Castle have signed a new long-term leasing deal for use of cellular towers and small cells to deploy 5G networks.
The agreement streamlines management to allow for AT&T to more quickly deploy 5G data speeds.
Canadian pharmacy fined $34 million
HELENA, Mont. — A Canadian online pharmacy has been fined $34 million for importing counterfeit cancer drugs and other unapproved pharmaceuticals into the United States.
Canada Drugs calls itself that nation's largest internet drugstore. The company and founder Kris Thorkelson were sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to felony charges in the U.S. state of Montana.
Prosecutors say the company has made at least $78 million importing mislabeled and unapproved drugs since 2001.
Priceline ends rental car feature
For many budget travel shoppers, Priceline’s Name Your Own Price tool held the same promise — and heartbreak —as gambling.
Choosing the right number for a rental car triggered an adrenaline rush equal to watching the roulette wheel land on your bet.
Of course, learning that no company accepted your bid hurt. Adding to the insult: Having to incrementally increase the price for, say, a Ford Focus.
But now the thrill is gone: The travel booking site has eliminated the feature for rental cars after 20 years of service.
The tool can now commiserate with Name Your Own Price flights, which the company jettisoned in September 2016.
As a replacement, Priceline is touting its Express Deals. Whereas NYOP kept you in the dark about the rental company until after you committed, travelers will know a few details about their purchase in advance, such as price, car type and a list of possible rental car brands.
The company said the savings are comparable —up to 40 percent off.