Talking Biz News Today – Dec. 11, 2015

Some of Friday’s top business news stories:

The Wall Street Journal

DuPont, Dow Chemical agree to merge, by David Benoit, Jacob Bunge and Chelsey Dulaney

Volkswagen blames ‘chain of mistakes’ for emissions scandal, by William Boston, Hendrik Varnholt and Sarah Sloat

Bloomberg

Rate destination unknown as Fed countdown to liftoff approaches, by Craig Torres 

Can Elizabeth Holmes save her unicorn?, by Sheelah Kolhatkar and Caroline Chen

The Associated Press

U.S. budget deficit widened in November, by Martin Crutsinger 

VW staff began working on cheat in 2005 to crack U.S. market, by David Rising and Kerstin Sopke

Reuters

U.S. jobless claims at five-month high; Import prices fall, by Lucia Mutikani

U.S. fines Fiat Chrysler $70 million over safety reporting lapses, by David Shepardson 

TheStreet

Walmart takes on Apple and Google with its own mobile payment system, by Rebecca Borison

Why Yum! Brands is spinning off its China division, by Brian Sozzi

News about business journalism:

Axel Springer considering paywall for Business Insider

WSJ’s energy editor Eaton leaving paper

CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” moves to HQ

International Business Times undergoes redesign

Longtime business journalist Jelter dies from cancer

Louisiana paper names new business reporter

The WSJ City approach to mobile news

This date in business journalism history:

2014: The media’s lack of labor reporting

2013: Challenges facing young business journalists

Business journalism birthdays: 

Dec. 11: Kara Swisher with Re/code