Reuters Construction giant Saudi Oger has asked banks to agree to a freeze in repayments on at least 13 billion riyals ($3.5 billion) of debt, sources aware of the matter said, as it seeks more time to collect money owed by the kingdom’s government. The request opens the way for the company, owned by the family of Lebanese Prime …

  Bloomberg Cash may no longer be king in India. The nation’s nascent digital economy stands to be the biggest beneficiary of its strongest crackdown on corruption since 1978. In a surprise announcement late Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned 500-rupee ($7.50) and 1,000-rupee notes effective midnight, sweeping away 86 percent of total currency in circulation. Paytm, India’s largest digital …

  Bloomberg Japan’s nuclear regulator cleared another pair of reactors on the southernmost island of Kyushu for restart despite a growing chorus of opponents who object to any resumption of nuclear operations. The Nuclear Regulation Authority approved a preliminary report on Wednesday that says Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Genkai No. 3 and 4 reactors meet post-Fukushima safety rules, one of …