US appeals court blocks remainder of Biden’s student debt plan
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court blocked the implementation of the Biden administration’s student debt relief plan, which would have lowered monthly payments for millions of borrowers. In a ruling Thursday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion…
Recent outages highlight need for stronger African internet
Nairobi, Kenya — Experts say Africa needs to invest in robust infrastructure if the continent is to have reliable internet after recent outages due to underwater cable failures highlighted the continent’s reliance on single-path connectivity. Disruptions in March and May…
Why are Bangladesh students protesting government job quotas?
Violence in Bangladesh has killed more than 12 people and injured hundreds after students took to the streets to demand reforms to a quota system that governs distribution of government jobs. Here are details of the protests and their history:…
China singles out Danish, Dutch, Spanish firms in anti-dumping probe into EU pork
China on Thursday named Danish Crown A/S, as well as Dutch and Spanish pork firms, as targets in an anti-dumping probe into European Union pork imports, as Beijing steps up pressure against the bloc’s curbs on its electric vehicle exports….
Nigeria to resume crude oil refining in August, industry authorities say
Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria plans to resume local refining of crude oil in early August, national petroleum authorities announced Monday. The resumption would end years of idleness at Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, and analysts say that if successfully implemented, it would…
IMF should work with Kenya to account for public funds, says rights group
Nairobi, Kenya — Advocacy group Human Rights Watch called Tuesday for greater accountability of public funds in Kenya, framing it partially as a human rights issue. Kenyans have taken to the streets for four consecutive weeks to protest the high…
Costa Rica announces win against Canadian gold miner over cancelled concession
Costa Rica said on Monday that an international tribunal had ruled in its favor in a dispute with Canadian mining company Infinito Gold over the 2010 cancellation of a gold concession on environmental grounds. “The government of the republic is…
Chinese e-commerce companies popular in South Africa
Johannesburg — Rotondwa Mbadaliga is a self-professed “shopping addict.” The 25-year-old South African fashion influencer says she is a huge fan of Chinese-linked e-commerce companies Shein and Temu because she can get the latest trends at the cheapest…
Cash-starved Pakistan acquires $7 billion IMF loan
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan said Saturday that a newly secured multibillion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund would help improve the cash-starved country’s macroeconomic stability. The official reaction came hours after the Washington-based global lender announced its preliminary agreement with Islamabad…
US consumer inflation eases to 3.0% in June
Washington — U.S. inflation edged down in June as analysts expected, government data showed Thursday, a reassuring development for President Joe Biden as he fights to win confidence on his economic record in his reelection bid. The consumer price index…