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March quake to drive 2.5% drop in Myanmar GDP, says World Bank
March quake to drive 2.5% drop in Myanmar GDP, says World Bank
by  AFP

Myanmar's economy is set to shrink 2.5 percent in the 2025/26 financial year, largely as a result of March's devastating magnitude-7.7 earthquake, the World Bank said on Thursday. A World Bank report predicted GDP will contract 2.5 percent in the financial year ending in March 2026 "mostly due to earthquake impacts", with output $2 billion lower than it would have been without the disaster.

UK economy shrinks in April as US tariffs kick in
UK economy shrinks in April as US tariffs kick in
by  AFP

Britain's economy shrank more than expected in April following a tax hike on UK businesses and a record drop in exports to the United States due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, official data showed Thursday. Exports of British goods to the United States fell by a record £2 billion ($2.7 billion) the same month, the ONS revealed, following the introduction of Trump's tariffs onslaught.

Niger-Benin border standoff deepens as trade collapse bites
Niger-Benin border standoff deepens as trade collapse bites
by  AFP

Nearly two years after Niger's military seized power and the border with Benin was shut, tensions over security, sovereignty and French influence have hardened into a stand-off throttling trade and paralysing ties between the west African neighbours.

EU crypto regulation hampered by national flaws
EU crypto regulation hampered by national flaws
by  AFP

The first EU-wide cryptocurrency regulation was meant to impose some harmony, but disparities in implementation by member countries has allowed companies to exploit a flaw in the system. France, however, sees it as granting companies greater time to prepare their application, with the country implementing a transition period through to June 2026.

Asian shares stumble after Trump's latest trade threat
Asian shares stumble after Trump's latest trade threat
by  AFP

Asian shares were rattled Thursday after Donald Trump said he would impose unilateral tariffs on partners in the next two weeks, reigniting trade war fears soon after reaching a deal with China to dial down tensions between the superpowers. Most Asian markets fell on Thursday, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta in the red after a broadly healthy run-up this week.