Business News Digest

Here are AP Business News' latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

TOP STORIES:

ONE-PERSON RAIL CREWS — This year’s scheduled completion of a $15 billion automatic railroad braking system will bolster the industry’s argument for eliminating one of the two crew members in most locomotives. But labor groups argue that single-person crews would make trains more accident prone. The shift away from two-person crews would jeopardize thousands of jobs at the major railroads and continue the decades-long trend of shrinking crews. The industry is on the verge of widespread use of an automatic braking system railroads say makes it unnecessary to have a conductor in the cab. But labor groups say conductors provide a crucial safety backup. By Josh Funk. SENT: 950 words, photos.

VENEZUELA-AT&T — Venezuela’s opposition together with the Trump administration is looking to recruit AT&T in its fight to oust Nicolás Maduro. State Department officials met in December with from AT&T executives to discuss how they can work together to disarm Maduro’s propaganda machine. By Joshua Goodman. SENT: 1,980 words, photos. There is also an abridged version of 1,260 words.

MARKETS & ECONOMY:

FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks are opening slightly higher on Wall Street, building on the big gains from a day earlier that sent major indexes to their latest record highs. SENT: 440 words, photos. UPCOMING: Will be updated through 5 p.m.

JOB OPENINGS — The Labor Department reports on job openings and labor turnover for November. By Christopher Rugaber. UPCOMING: 130 words after 10 a.m. release, then expanded.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION — U.S. industrial production fell 0.3% in December, as unseasonably warm weather reduced demand for heating from utilities. By Josh Boak. SENT: 170 words, photos.

HOME CONSTRUCTION — Construction of new homes surged in December to the highest level in 13 years, capping a year in which falling mortgage rates and a strong labor market helped lift the prospects of the housing industry. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 270 words, photos.

INDUSTRY:

FIAT CHRYSLER-CHINA-ELECTRIC CARS — Fiat Chrysler is in talks with the Chinese company Foxconn to develop and manufacture battery-powered vehicles. SENT: 380 words, photos.

TESLA-UNINTENDED ACCELERATION — The U.S. government's auto safety agency is looking into allegations that all three of Tesla's electric vehicles can suddenly accelerate on their own. By Tom Krisher. SENT: 340 words, photo. UPCOMING: will be updated.

WASHINGTON:

CONGRESSMAN-STOCK-INDICTMENT — A judge must decide the fate of former U.S. Rep. Christopher Collins after his lawyers and prosecutors disagreed over how he should be punished for conspiring in an insider trading scheme. SENT: 380 words, photo. UPCOMING: Will be udpated after sentencing.

INTERNATIONAL:

NETHERLANDS-AGRICULTURE EXPORTS — Dutch agriculture exports hit a record high last year thanks to sales of its famous tulips and flowers - as well as a surge in pork to China, where the meat industry has been hit by outbreaks of African swine fever. SENT: 170 words, photos.

CARLOS-GHOSN — The legal team of Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn has issued a statement refuting the latest allegations by the Japanese automaker against the fugitive executive. By Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 360 words.

INDONESIA-JAPAN-NEW CAPITAL — Japan's SoftBank is offering to invest $30 billion to $40 billion in the development of a new Indonesian capital, an official said Friday. By Edna Tarigan. SENT: 410 words.

FRANCE-STRIKES — Paris' Louvre museum was closed Friday as dozens of protesters blocked the entrance to denounce the French government's plans to overhaul the pension system. SENT: 290 words, photos.

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