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Canberra will be tough on pricing but not on mergers

Location:

AUSTRALIA

Under pressure on cost-of-living issues, Canberra is reviewing competition laws to see what effect market dominance may be having in a handful of major sectors, including banking…

US defence reliance on imported key minerals is a risk

Location:

UNITED STATES

The neglect of domestic mining since the 1980s has left the US military reliant on a relatively small number of foreign suppliers for critical minerals and rare earths needed to…

Pace of monetary easing will slow in Eastern Europe

Location:

EASTERN EUROPE

Central banks in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) have already delivered hefty rate cuts but the ECB move might not herald further loosening. Economic recovery is tepid but inflation…

Severe drought spells economic woes for Zambia

Location:

ZAMBIA

The prolonged dry period is having a serious economic impact, as Zambia relies heavily on hydropower to generate electricity and has been forced to implement power cuts for…

WTO now a forum for talks, not unanimous dealmaking

Location:

INTERNATIONAL

The WTO remains the main body determining global trade rules, but increasingly it looks likely to struggle to go beyond mere discussion.

Afghan drug ban may be close to unravelling

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

Local villagers were ignoring the ban on the production, use and trafficking of drugs, announced by Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada in April 2022. The Taliban…

Ukraine's nuclear dependence on Russia will decline

Location:

UKRAINE

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) account for over 50% of the electricity supply in Ukraine. Kyiv has been seeking to break its dependence on Russia in all spheres of the nuclear supply…

New Irish leader will struggle to reverse polls

Location:

IRELAND

Harris replaces Leo Varadkar, who surprisingly announced that he was stepping down ahead of local, EU and national elections. In his first speech as party leader, Harris suggested…

Yemen’s anti-Huthi front is unlikely to regain force

Location:

YEMEN

The PLC is deeply divided, and economic conditions are deteriorating. There is no indication of improved governance in the southern areas of Yemen that it holds, despite the…

Elections could prove awkward for Maldives president

Location:

MALDIVES

The two parties associated with him are currently in the minority in the unicameral legislature. Muizzu came to power after winning last year’s presidential race. He was a…