Economic Conditions and Trends

• China Wins as Trump Cedes Leadership of the Global Economy - The president used a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to renounce the last vestiges of the liberal democratic order.
• Real Estate Crash Weighs on China’s Economic Growth - Falling apartment prices have erased the savings of millions of Chinese households, but exports lifted the economy to 5 percent growth last year.
• U.S. Races to Sell Venezuelan Oil, Transforming Ties With Former Foe - U.S. officials brokered the sale of hundreds of millions dollars worth of Venezuelan oil to stabilize the country’s economy after capturing its president.
• Iran Braces for Weekend of Protests. Here’s What to Know. - Demonstrations that began as outrage at the state of the economy have spread to cities across the country, amid an escalating crackdown by the authorities.
• How Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Leader, Became Vital to Trump’s Plans for the Country - Delcy Rodríguez, a guerrilla’s daughter, started out as a provocateur. She pivoted to revive a ravaged economy, making her vital to U.S. plans to run Venezuela.
• Trump Is Making a Power Play in Latin America. China Is Already There. - China built a dominant strategic position in the region as the leading lender and trading partner. It is watching President Trump’s next moves closely.
• What to Know About the Protests in Iran - Galloping inflation, a currency crisis and anger at the regime have fueled demonstrations across the country.
• China Touts Hainan, Its Duty-Free Island, Amid $1 Trillion Trade Surplus - Policies meant to lure importers to Hainan, a resort island off China’s coast, signal an opening up, Beijing says. One expert calls it a “bait and switch.”
• After Trump’s Military Victory in Venezuela, Cuba’s Economy Is in ‘Freefall’ - With widespread power outages, medicine shortages and rising food prices, experts say Cuba’s economy has never been worse, with the crisis coming just as the supply of Venezuelan oil is threatened.
• Iran Offering Monthly Payments to Citizens to Cool Protests - The plan to give Iranians roughly $7 a month is the latest in a string of steps aimed at alleviating economic pressures. Critics say the payments cannot reverse the severity of the crisis.