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The Panama Canal, one of the world’s largest trading channels, has been dealing with a severe drought this spring and summer, and is expected to continue to experience serious dryness in upcoming months. Panama has two seasons in a year: a dry season and a rainy season. Though the rainy season usually runs from late April until late November, Panama is still experiencing the lowest amount of rainfall since 2000. The unusual drought has caused lower water levels in the canal. According to Boris Moreno, the Vice President of Operations for the channel, the lakes that the passage depends on have close to minimum water levels. 

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While the words "accessible luxury" may first appear to be an oxymoron, the concept has grown vastly in the past few years. The definition is pretty broad, but typically, accessible fashion includes better quality material and craftsmanship; however, their products are not quite as expensive as the stereotypical luxury companies such as Gucci or Louis Vuitton. Some popular accessible luxury companies include Calvin Klien, Coach, J Crew, William Sonoma, and MAC.

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As the world pivots away from fossil fuels and towards a sustainable future, one intriguing option is geothermal energy. By using fracking techniques developed by the oil and gas companies, companies are able to harvest heat from the Earth to power generators connected to the power grid. Geothermal energy is a nearly unlimited power source; according to scientists at Fervo Energy, there is enough geothermal energy in the United States alone to power the country several times over.

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On August 30, 2023, a swift and unexpected coup d'état shook the foundations of Gabon’s political landscape. While the coup’s duration was short-lived, its repercussions have profoundly impacted the country’s business environment. The ramifications of this event have created a ripple effect across the business sector, introducing an atmosphere of unpredictability and risk that companies operating in Gabon must now confront.

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Shrinkflation has infiltrated our shopping experiences in more ways than one. From supermarket aisles to the realm of services, it’s a phenomenon leaving consumers both puzzled and frustrated. A variety of companies worldwide are using this cost-saving technique. Companies are reducing the size or quantity of a product while keeping its price the same or even increasing it. In other words, less products cost more.

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This week marks the end of the Michigan State University Spring 2023 semester, which also closes another school year in the books for the globalEDGE blog team. globalEDGE Blogs will take a break from its regular schedule throughout the summer months, anticipating returning in September 2023.

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Cryptocurrencies have been gaining popularity and attention over the past few years, with more and more people investing in them to diversify their portfolios. Some trending names you may have heard of include Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Tether. As the industry expands, so do concerns about illegal activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing. The European Union (EU) parliament recently approved the world’s first comprehensive cryptocurrency regulation to address these concerns. The name of the law is Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). This landmark decision has significant implications for businesses operating in the crypto industry.