India’s population is set to surpass China’s sometime this year according to the United Nations. Experts say while this represents an opportunity to reap a demographic dividend, much will depend…
more ...House Speaker McCarthy Optimistic on US Debt Deal
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy promised Sunday the United States would not default on its national debts as the country approaches its $31.4 trillion spending limit in June but said…
more ...Is Tipping Getting Out of Control? Many US Consumers Say Yes
Across the U.S., there’s a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping. Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media…
more ...‘Whale Meat’ Vending Machines Push Sales in Japan
A Japanese whaling operator, after struggling for years to promote its products amid protests from conservationists, has found a new way to cultivate clientele and bolster sales: whale meat vending…
more ...The Challenges of Driving Electric in Indonesia
Buying an electric vehicle remains challenging for many consumers. High prices and limited access to charging stations can make it a difficult decision, especially in emerging markets like Indonesia. VOA’s…
more ...How Will We Know if the US Economy Is in a Recession?
WASHINGTON (AP) — The second consecutive quarter of economic growth that the government reported Thursday underscored that the nation isn’t in a recession despite high inflation and the Federal Reserve’s…
more ...With New Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s Focus Turns to Better Road, Rail Connections
Nigerian authorities have hailed the launch of a deepwater seaport in Lagos they say will create 300,000 jobs and reduce shipping bottlenecks. While the new port is expected to reduce…
more ...US Economy Showed Solid Growth at End of 2022
The U.S. economy cooled only slightly at the end of last year, advancing at an annualized 2.9% rate, the Department of Commerce reported Thursday, even as forecasters are suggesting a…
more ...IMF Chief Praises Zambia’s Reforms, Pushes Creditors on Debt
The head of the International Monetary Fund is praising Zambia’s efforts to reform its economy and urging its creditors to restructure the country’s debts. Zambia was the first African country…
more ...Spotify to Cut 6% of Workforce, Some 600 Employees
Swedish music streaming giant Spotify said Monday it was cutting six percent of its roughly 10,000 employees, the latest cost-cutting announcement among technology companies. “In hindsight, I was too ambitious…
more ...Fashion Sneakers Propel Sustainable Rubber in Brazil Amazon
Rubber tapper Raimundo Mendes de Barros prepares to leave his home, surrounded by rainforest, for an errand in the Brazilian Amazon city of Xapuri. He slides his long, scarred, 77-year-old…
more ...India Facilitates IMF Bailout for Crisis Stricken Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has moved closer to securing a crucial $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund after India extended financing assurances that Colombo needs from its major foreign creditors…
more ...US Starts ‘Extraordinary Measures’ to Avert Debt Ceiling Breach
The U.S. has begun taking “extraordinary measures” to avoid spending that would breach the country’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers Thursday, touching off a Washington…
more ...No Progress on Netherlands Joining US Chip-Export Ban to China
In his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday at the White House, President Joe Biden appeared to have made no progress to get the Netherlands to support…
more ...Economic Woes, War, Climate Change on Tap for Davos Meeting
The World Economic Forum is back with its first winter meetup since 2020 in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, where leaders are seeking to bridge political divisions in a…
more ...Oxfam: World’s Richest 1% ‘Grab Two-Thirds of Global Wealth’
As the annual World Economic Forum gets underway this week in Davos, Switzerland, Oxfam says extreme wealth and extreme poverty have increased simultaneously for the first time in 25 years.…
more ...Davos 2023: Big Oil in Sights of Climate Activist Protests
Big oil firms came under pressure at the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from activists who accused them of hijacking the climate debate, while a Greta Thunberg-sponsored “cease…
more ...Global Unemployment Grows Amid Economic Slowdown
The outlook for the year ahead and beyond is not very promising. The International Labor Organization warns that the current global economic slowdown will force millions of workers to accept…
more ...US Inflation Eases for Sixth Straight Month
The increase in U.S. consumer prices eased again in December, dropping for the sixth straight month after reaching a four-decade high in mid-2022, the government reported Thursday. The Bureau of…
more ...World Bank Warns Global Economy Could Easily Tip Into Recession in 2023
The World Bank slashed its 2023 growth forecasts on Tuesday to levels teetering on the brink of recession for many countries as the impact of central bank rate hikes intensifies,…
more ...Ant Group Founder Jack Ma to Give Up Control in Key Revamp
Ant Group’s founder Jack Ma will give up control of the Chinese fintech giant in an overhaul that seeks to draw a line under a regulatory crackdown that was triggered…
more ...2023 Will Be Tough on Global Economy, IMF Chief Warns
For much of the global economy, 2023 is going to be a tough year as the main engines of global growth – the United States, Europe and China – all…
more ...Croatia Switches to Euro, Enters Borderless Europe Club
Croatia on Sunday switched to the euro and entered Europe’s passport-free zone — two major milestones for the country after joining the EU nearly a decade ago. At midnight local…
more ...Iran Replaces Central Bank Governor Amid Currency Crash
Iran appointed a new head of its central bank Thursday after the currency crashed to its lowest level ever against the dollar amid mass protests and ongoing Western sanctions. Mohammad…
more ...US Holiday Sales Up 7.6% Despite Squeeze of Inflation
Holiday sales rose this as American spending remained resilient during the critical shopping season despite surging prices on everything from food to rent, according to one measure. Holiday sales rose…
more ...Cubans Search for Holiday Food Amid Deepening Crisis
As Belkis Fajardo, 69, walks through the dense streets of downtown Havana with a small bag of lettuce and onions in hand, she wonders how she’ll feed her family over…
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