Economy
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UN: Myanmar Becomes World’s Largest Opium Producer
DID Press: Myanmar has overtaken all other countries to become the world’s largest producer of opium, reported UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). According to a report released on December 20, Myanmar produced 1,010 tons of opium this year—more…
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UN: 3-Quarters of Afghanistan’s Workforce Unemployed
DID Press: A recent UN report highlights the deepening economic crisis in Afghanistan, marked by unprecedented unemployment and sharply reduced household incomes. According to the report, unemployment in Afghanistan has reached around 75 percent, while the country’s GDP fell by…
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Massive Power Outage Plunges San Francisco into Darkness
DID Press: A widespread power outage has left large parts of San Francisco, California, in darkness, affecting approximately 130,000 homes and businesses—nearly one-third of all Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers in the city. The blackout is one of the…
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Why US Pressure on Venezuela Is Tied to Middle East Power Politics
DID Press: The unprecedented escalation of US pressure on Venezuela, including moves toward what appears to be a near-total maritime blockade, is not merely a regional crisis in Latin America. It reflects a broader strategy by the Trump administration to…
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SIGAR: $29B of US Afghanistan Reconstruction Funds Completely Wasted
DID Press: The final report of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reveals that of the $144 billion the U.S. spent on rebuilding Afghanistan, roughly $29 billion was entirely wasted. The 137-page report, the last issued before SIGAR’s…
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Iran–Israel Tensions Triple War-Risk Shipping Insurance
DID Press: Rising regional tensions between Iran and Israel prompted a rapid reaction in maritime insurance markets, with war-risk premiums for sensitive shipping routes—particularly Israeli ports—surging sharply. Analytical outlet Benzinga reports that insurers are reassessing risks linked to the Strait…
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Goldman Sachs Forecasts 14% Rise in Gold, Mixed Outlook for Copper and Energy
DID Press: Goldman Sachs has forecast a sharp rise in gold prices by the end of next year, while offering a more nuanced outlook for copper and energy markets in its latest research note. In its most likely scenario, the…
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UN Reports 20% Cut in Taliban Security Forces
DID Press: UN says the Taliban authorities have reduced their security forces by around 20 percent amid budgetary constraints and organizational inflation, with thousands of Tajik and Uzbek personnel dismissed. In a report to the UN Security Council, the organization…
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