VIENTIANE, Laos: Long lines of motorists queuing for petrol have been snaking through the streets of Vientiane in recent days as Laos struggles with a growing fuel crisis.

LONDON: Bitcoin slumped below $30,000 for the first time since July 2021 on Tuesday as cryptocurrencies track sinking markets with investors spooked by aggressive US monetary tightening and surging inflation.

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: An airport without planes, a revolving restaurant with no diners, a debt-laden seaport-Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has been exacerbated by Chinese-funded projects that stand as neglected monuments to government extravagance.

WASHINGTON: The G7 club of wealthy nations committed Sunday to phasing out its dependency on Russian oil and issued a scathing statement accusing President Vladimir Putin of bringing “shame” on Russia with his invasion of Ukraine.

HONG KONG: Western multinationals and local tycoons published newspaper adverts congratulating John Lee on becoming Hong Kong’s next leader, following a rubber-stamp selection process decried as anti-democratic by many major economies Monday.

BEIJING: China’s export growth slumped in April to its lowest level in almost two years, customs data showed Monday, as a COVID resurgence shuttered factories, sparked transport curbs and caused congestion at key ports.

KUWAIT: The Boursa Kuwait closed its trading on Monday with the general market index declining by 19.9 points to reach the level of 8,387.78 points, a decrease of 0.24 percent.

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee plunged to an all-time low against the greenback on Monday, as US monetary policy tightening roiled sentiment and foreign investors continued to dump domestic stocks.

ABUJA: Nigerian airlines are to suspend all flights from Monday over rising jet fuel prices, an umbrella organization of operators said on Saturday.