By Wei Li, Kathleen Walsh & Luke Deer In October, media reports suggested mining giant BHP had accepted a deal to settle about a third of its spot iron ore sales to Chinese customers in China’s own currency, the renminbi (RMB), rather than US dollars. Those reports still haven’t been officially confirmed, amid ongoing closed-door negotiations between the mining
By John Long We think of ancient civilisations as operating very differently from the way our economy works today. Yet the Bronze Age Assyrians living in Mesopotamia, around 4,000 to 3,000 years ago, began the basis of modern capitalism, in a region spanning most of modern-day Iraq, eastern Syria and southeastern Turkey. The Assyrian empire was
By RFE/RL’s Tajik Service DUSHANBE — Three Chinese citizens working for a gold-extraction company in southern Tajikistan have been killed in an attack — the second in a year — that Tajik authorities say was carried out from across the border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on November 27 that the assault targeted a compound belonging
By Ismael M. Belkoura Erica Cooper became her best friend’s primary caregiver about five years ago. Cooper and Jessika Ramirez were roommates in Fort Worth, ready to take on the world as two young women in their mid-20s. Then Ramirez found out her cancer had come back after being in remission for a couple years. Cooper
By Mom Mit Since 2024, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has intensified efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Cambodia. But while the quantity of FDI has increased, Cambodia’s weak institutions and rampant corruption prevent the nation from attracting high-quality investment. FDI has long been one of the main engines of Cambodia’s economic growth. From 1994
