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A battle to save a battlefield

PRINCETON, N.J. — One of history’s most important battles happened here on a field you can walk across in less than half the 45 or so minutes the battle lasted. If George Washington’s audacity on Jan. 3, 1777, had not reversed the patriots’ retreat and routed the advancing British, the American Revolution might have been extinguished. Yet such is America’s ...

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Expanding US-Japan-India coop in the Indian Ocean

One of the focus areas within the growing trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan and India is the Indian Ocean. Covering one-fifth of the water on the Earth’s surface, the Indian Ocean generates vital long-term trade flows and energy interests, particularly for Asia. However, tensions between China and India in their waters are increasing as New Delhi grows concerned ...

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Growing a nation won’t always grow its economy

Noah Smith On June 23, the U.K. will vote on whether to withdraw from the European Union. This is a momentous decision, with far-reaching economic and political consequences that are now being hotly debated. If Britons vote to exit, it could lead to a breakup of the EU, and set back the global move toward greater political integration. This raises ...

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Can Thailand avoid the middle-income trap?

The term “middle-income trap“ has gained prominence among academics and policymakers in recent years. The term refers to the phenomenon in which economies stop growing before they become rich. The heightened interest in the issue is understandable, given half of the countries in the world are middle-income countries and the majority of them are likely to be stuck there for ...

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Boeing gets $1.5 billion surprise with new 747 jumbo jet orders

Bloomberg Boeing Co. landed new four orders valued at $1.5 billion for its 747 jumbo jetliners, giving life to a programme starved for sales amid waning demand for four-engine aircraft. The orders were reported on Boeing’s website this week and the identity of the customer wasn’t disclosed. The US planemaker also reported that it delivered fewer jetliners than a year ...

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Wal-Mart to sell 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 in industry shift

Bloomberg Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retail chain, will sell 100 percent cage-free eggs in the US by 2025, joining an industry-wide shift toward a practice that’s seen as more humane. As part of the transition, Wal-Mart and its Sam’s Club warehouse chain will require that its egg suppliers adopt United Egg Producers rules or an equivalent set of ...

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Sistema to sell further stake in retailer Detsky Mir

MOSCOW / Reuters Russian holding company Sistema said it is in talks with private investors about selling a further stake in children’s goods retailer Detsky Mir. Sistema, which has said it plans to list the unit, sold a 23.1 percent stake in Detsky Mir to the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF) for 9.8 billion roubles ($143 million) in December, valuing the ...

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Maldives launches $800 million airport expansion

Male / AFP The Maldives government has kicked off a controversial $800-million expansion of the country’s main airport by a Chinese company, a move likely to irritate giant neighbour India. President Abdulla Yameen inaugurated construction work in a ceremony this week in the capital city Male. The expansion means the Airbus A380 will be able to land at the airport ...

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Air New Zealand says no Vanuatu flights until runway fixed

WELLINGTON / AFP Air New Zealand said it would not resume flights to Vanuatu until the runway of the Pacific nation’s international airport is properly fixed. The Kiwi flag carrier, along with Virgin Australia, suspended services to Port Vila in January, citing safety concerns over the deteriorating runway at Bauerfield International Airport. Qantas also suspended a code-share agreement with Air ...

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Weaker banks pay up to regain debt market

Bloomberg The market for the riskiest bank debt is starting to open for Europe’s weaker lenders — provided they are willing to pay up. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) SA sold 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of so-called additional Tier 1 bonds, with a coupon of 8.875 percent, according to data. That’s about two percentage points more than the Spanish ...

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