Several dictators are significantly overstating economic growth, according to research which looks at satellite images of countries at night. As Henry Ridgwell reports, economists have long questioned the reliability of…
more ...Clashes as Thousands Protest French Agro-industry Water ‘Grab’
Thousands of demonstrators defied an official ban to march Saturday against the deployment of new water storage infrastructure for agricultural irrigation in western France, some clashing with police. Clashes between…
more ...Study: Heat Waves Cost Poor Countries the Most, Exacerbating Inequality
Heat waves, intensified by climate change, have cost the global economy trillions of dollars in the past 30 years, a study published Friday found, with poor countries paying the steepest…
more ...Biden Pushes Strong Jobs Market as US Midterm Elections Near
U.S. President Joe Biden has pushed his economic agenda while campaigning for his Democratic Party before the November 8 elections, but high inflation, energy prices and economic anxiety caused by…
more ...Timeline of Billionaire Elon Musk’s Bid to Control Twitter
On Oct. 4, Elon Musk reversed himself and offered to honor his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion — a deal he had spent the previous several months…
more ...Elon Musk Completes $44 Billion Acquisition of Twitter
Elon Musk became Twitter Inc’s new owner on Thursday, firing top executives he had accused of misleading him and providing little clarity over how he will achieve the lofty ambitions…
more ...US Rolls Out Voluntary Cybersecurity Goals
The United States is trying to make it easier for companies and organizations to bolster their cybersecurity in the face of growing attacks aimed at crippling their operations, stealing their…
more ...Musk Says He Doesn’t Seek ‘Free-for-All Hellscape’ for Twitter
Elon Musk is telling Twitter advertisers he is buying the platform to “help humanity” and doesn’t want it to become a “free-for-all hellscape” where anything can be said with no…
more ...European Central Bank Makes Another Large Interest Rate Hike
The European Central Bank piled on another outsized interest rate hike aimed at squelching out-of-control inflation, increasing rates Thursday at the fastest pace in the euro currency’s history and raising…
more ...US Economy Returned to Growth Last Quarter, Expanding 2.6%
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.6% annual rate from July through September, snapping two straight quarters of economic contraction and overcoming punishingly high inflation and interest rates. Thursday’s estimate…
more ...IMF Chief Wants Central Banks to Keep Raising Rates to Hit ‘Neutral’ Level
International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday that central banks should keep raising interest rates further to fight inflation until they hit a “neutral” level, though in most…
more ...LogOn: US Navy Turns to Driverless Ships for Indo-Pacific Strategy
As the U.S. military considers China’s military strength in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Navy is turning to driverless ships to multiply its forces. VOA’s Jessica Stone takes us along…
more ...US Technology Helps Improve Crop Yields in Drought-stricken Africa
More frequent and severe droughts in Africa are hampering food production, especially in arid parts of the continent where farmers struggle to eke out a living. A water retention system…
more ...China’s Leader Faces Challenge: Fixing Economy While Pursuing Growth
China’s President Xi Jinping has faced and survived many challenges in life. He spent years as a teenager toiling in the countryside after his father was persecuted. He worked his…
more ...Companies Weigh Fallout From US Ban on Sending Chip Tech to China
The Biden administration’s announcement earlier this month that it would ban the transfer of advanced U.S. semiconductor technology to China continues to reverberate through global markets. The ruling by the…
more ...Ukraine War Creates Risks, Benefits for US Farmers
The good news for Benjamin Rice is that the price for the corn and soybeans he grows on his Philo, Illinois, farm are up this year – a bright spot…
more ...Ukraine War Helping, Hurting US Farmers
Farmers are harvesting crops in the United States during a period of economic uncertainty due in large part to Russia’s war on Ukraine. As VOA’s Kane Farabaugh reports, farmers are…
more ...US Official Blames Zimbabwe’s Economic Decline on Corruption, Not Sanctions
Poor governance and corruption in Zimbabwe are responsible for the country’s economic decline, not U.S. and other Western sanctions imposed after reports of election rigging and human rights abuses, a…
more ...Doorbell Cameras: Deterring Criminals, as Residents Become ‘Cops on the Beat’
More and more, people are installing video doorbells and surveillance cameras in and around their homes to protect against unwanted intruders. But while many consumers feel the devices provide some…
more ...Something New Under the Sun: Floating Solar Panels
Who said there is nothing new under the sun? One of the hottest innovations for the non-polluting generation of electricity is floating photo-voltaics, or FPV, which involves anchoring solar panels…
more ...Secretary Blinken Promotes Tech Diplomacy in Silicon Valley
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Silicon Valley this week comes as the Biden administration is promoting more investment in technology but also enacting more restrictions on selling technology…
more ...Sources: China’s State Banks Seen Acquiring Dollars in Swaps Market to Stabilize Yuan
China’s state banks stepped up their intervention to defend a weakening yuan on Monday, with banking sources telling Reuters these banks sold a high volume of U.S. dollars and used…
more ...Musk Says SpaceX Will Keep Funding Starlink for Ukraine
Elon Musk said Saturday his rocket company, SpaceX, would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for “good deeds,” a day after he said it…
more ...Tough Year Ahead as IMF Cuts Growth, Projects Recession
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had bad news for the global economy this past week. It lowered the global growth rate to 2.7% for next year, warned of sovereign defaults…
more ...Apple Workers in Oklahoma Vote to Unionize in 2nd Labor Win
Workers at an Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize, marking the second unionized Apple store in the U.S. in a matter of months, according to the federal labor…
more ...Indian Village Disconnects With ‘Daily Digital Detox’ Initiative
In a remote village in India, a siren can be heard from the local temple every night at 7 p.m. — signaling the commencement of a daily “digital detox.” For…
more ...
