Economy

Nearly 64% Arab world’s adult still without excess with banking system
The African banking system is less developed compared to other major regions globally, with lower financial depth and access. Factors like small national markets, lack of financial literacy, low-income levels, and political instability contribute to this. A new report from the Read More

BYD cars grow in popularity in Singapore
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has overtaken Toyota as the top-selling car in Singapore — and it’s due to a combination of attractive pricing and increasingly positive brand sentiments towards Chinese technology, said drivers and analysts alike. Data by Read More

Global military expenditure on rise
World military expenditure reached US $ 2,718 billion in 2024. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), this global military expenditure sees the steepest rise for the 10th consecutive year since with an increase of 9.4 per cent compared Read More

Asian economy presents opportunities for sustainable investment
Asia’s robust economic fundamentals present significant opportunities for scaling financing into sustainable development projects, even amid geopolitical headwinds and trade tensions, said policy and business leaders at the inaugural Hong Kong edition of Unlocking capital for sustainability held on 27 Read More

World Bank’s fund to improve Nepal’s bridge network
The World Bank (WB) approved a financing package of US $150 million for Nepal’s Third Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program (BIMP-III) to strengthen the resilience of bridges in the Strategic Road Network, ensuring safer and uninterrupted connectivity across the country’s Read More

Thailand Tourism Festival 2025 kicks off
Thailand kicked off the 43rd Thailand Tourism Festival 2025. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) press release note, the event starts on 26 March and will end on 30 March between 10:00 and 21:00 hours at the Queen Read More

Arms: Ukraine tops in importer, United States biggest exporter
Ukraine became the world's largest importer of major arms in the period 2020-24, with its imports increasing nearly 100 times over compared with 2015-19. Ukraine was the only European state among the top 10 importers in 2020-24, although many other Read More

Tourism vision shared at ITB Berlin
As it celebrates its 50th year, the UN Tourism has returned to ITB Berlin 2025. At Messe Berlin, a UN Tourism Affiliate Member, UN Tourism again served as the bridge between public and private leaders and for the first time Read More

Africa urges huge fund for climate crisis deal
African Union leaders on Sunday urged a massive increase in climate finance, calling for US $1.3 trillion annually. According to Winston Mwale’s report in Africa Brief & Distory, the summit held at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia chaired by Kenyan President Read More

UN Tourism at FITUR 2025
UN Tourism has returned to the four-day FITUR international trade fair from January 21 to 24 to advance the sector’s shift towards greater accessibility and growth propelled by investments and innovation. Looking to the next 50 years, high-level delegates gathered Read More