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Sri Lankan voters will head to the polls this Saturday to choose a new president. We’ll see why the economy will be at the heart of the campaign with the financial collapse of 2022 still present in peoples’ minds. In 2024, economic indicators have recovered but Sri Lankans are still suffering. Also in this edition, Donald Trump accuses the US federal reserve of “playing politics” after it cut its target interest rate.

The US Federal Reserve lowered its key lending rate by a deeper-than-expected 0.5 percent, in its first rate cut in more than four years. The move indicates that while monetary policymakers are confident about taming inflation, their focus has shifted to supporting the slowing job market. Plus, France 24’s Yuka Royer speaks with Regina Mayor, Global Head of Clients & Markets at KPMG International, about what is top of mind for global CEOs amid economic uncertainty and technological advances. 

Norway’s road federation revealed on Tuesday that the number of electric vehicles on its roads was now larger than the number of petrol cars. Though diesel cars are still the most common type of vehicle in the country, EVs could overtake them in 2026. In this edition, we take a look at why Norway is leading the way in the transition to electric mobility. Also on the show, we discover the sweet Algerian spread that’s creating a viral sensation in France and attracting the attention of regulators.

After weeks of negotiations, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled her new top team, giving key economic portfolios to France, Italy and Spain. If approved by the European Parliament, the bloc’s top brass will be charged with steering the EU’s industrial agenda in the face of competition from China and the US. Plus, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces a new plan to make a part of Oxford Street completely traffic-free. 

In a long memo sent to Amazon staff on Monday, CEO Andy Jassy told the tech giant’s corporate employees that they would no longer be allowed to work remotely so that they are “better set up to invent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other”. Amazon had previously faced protests when reducing the number of days that staff could work from home. Also in this edition, Meta bans Russian state media platforms from its apps and Boeing cuts costs and freezes hiring amid a damaging strike.