subsidy

Irate drivers in Africa's most populous nation paid more than twice the usual price Monday after the government quietly removed a long-cherished consumer subsidy that had kept gas affordable, prompting fears of strikes and unrest.

Fuel consumption has fallen by a fifth since the government began slashing energy and food subsidies earlier this month, a top government official said Wednesday, claiming an early sign of success in the controversial program.

China has imposed anti-subsidy duties for five years on imports of U.S. chicken products after concluding producers received improper support, the Commerce Ministry said Wednesday amid a string of trade spats with Washington.

An auto parts employee laid off from his job last year has been able to hang onto his health insurance because the federal government has picked up most of the tab.

That subsidy ends Tuesday for Don Hall and thousands of other Americans.

The BBC vigorously defended its system of subsidy financing, prompting a government minister to say the broadcaster was behaving in a “wrong-headed” manner.