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Economy

Cambodia’s new canal could boost trade but risks harming key river

PREK TAKEO, Cambodia —  The Mekong River is a lifeline for millions in the six countries it traverses on its way from its headwaters to the sea, sustaining the world’s largest inland fishery and abundant rice paddies on Vietnam’s Mekong…

Zimbabwe currency plunges after central bank move to allow more flexibility

Harare, Zimbabwe —  The value of Zimbabwe’s gold-backed currency plunged 44% Friday on the official market. The sudden drop of the gold backed currency, known as ZiG, began Friday shortly after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s monetary committee met and…

Oxfam: ‘Oligarchy’ of super-rich undermining cooperation to tackle poverty, climate change

As world leaders gather for the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, the charity Oxfam says they are being undermined by what it calls a ‘global oligarchy’ of the super-rich who exert control over the global…

Oxfam: ‘Oligarchy’ of super-rich undermining cooperation to tackle poverty, climate change

London —  As world leaders gather for the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, the charity Oxfam says they are being undermined by what it calls a “global oligarchy” of the super-rich who exert considerable control…

Harris promises tax breaks, investments for US manufacturers

PITTSBURGH —  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday she would offer tax credits to domestic manufacturers and invest in sectors that will “define the next century,” as she detailed her economic plan to boost the U.S. middle class….

OECD sees global economy ‘turning corner’ toward growth

The global economy has stabilized after several years of inflation-fueled volatility and is on pace to grow at a 3.2% rate over the next two years, according to a report issued Wednesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development…

US Justice Department sues Visa, saying it monopolizes debit card markets

NEW YORK —  The U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa on Tuesday, alleging that the financial services behemoth uses its size and dominance to stifle competition in the debit card market, costing consumers and businesses billions of…

Sri Lanka’s new president calls parliamentary elections to consolidate his mandate

Colombo, Sri Lanka —  Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake dissolved Parliament late Tuesday and called for parliamentary elections in less than three weeks in an effort to consolidate power after his weekend election victory. A government notification said…

German economy expected to contract again in 2024, say sources

Berlin —  Germany’s leading economic institutes have downgraded their forecast for 2024 and now see Europe’s largest economy shrinking by 0.1%, people familiar with the figures from the autumn joint economic forecast told Reuters on Tuesday. Germany’s economy was the…

Biden administration seeks to ban Chinese, Russian tech in most US vehicles

New York —  The U.S. Commerce Department said Monday it’s seeking a ban on the sale of connected and autonomous vehicles in the U.S. that are equipped with Chinese and Russian software and hardware with the stated goal of protecting…