Special Reports

A recent report reveals a concerning trend among the world’s leading food and beverage corporations: they tend to sell less nutritious products in low-income countries than in wealthier ones. The assessment, conducted by the non-profit Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), evaluates major companies like Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever as part...

In July 2025, 39 countries will deliver their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) to the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), with most countries presenting their third VNRs. Guatemala, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Qatar will be among the few presenting their fourth reviews, while no nations are scheduled for...

Asia, contributing 60% to global economic growth, remains the powerhouse of the global economy, noted Krishna Srinivasan, director of the International Monetary Fund's Asia and Pacific Department. He emphasized that Asia is the world’s most dynamic region, citing its vast and increasingly skilled labor force, strong integration into global supply...

The latest e-Conomy SEA report from Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company forecasts Southeast Asia’s digital economy reaching $263 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in 2024—a 15% increase over the previous year. Revenue is projected to grow by 14%, reaching $89 billion, as the region advances toward profitable, sustainable...

After a seven-week work stoppage, tens of thousands of striking Boeing machinists voted on Monday to accept a new contract offer, officially ending the strike. The machinists voted with 59% in favor of the agreement, signaling a return to work as soon as Nov. 6, with all employees required to...

Scientists and environmental advocates have long urged significant cuts in meat production to mitigate emissions and counteract climate change. Yet, a new study suggests that even modest reductions—particularly by wealthier nations—could sequester around 125 billion tons of carbon dioxide, surpassing total global fossil fuel emissions from the last three years....

Washington, D.C. has long faced criticism as a potential tech hub, dismissed as too steeped in government culture—risk-averse, slow-paced, and lacking a focus on profitability. However, over the past 15 years, the city’s landscape has shifted as technology innovation spread beyond Silicon Valley, and D.C.’s economy experienced substantial growth. Today,...

Vietnam is striving to rank among the top three Southeast Asian nations in industrial competitiveness by the end of this decade, a goal set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to the ministry’s action plan, the country’s industrial sector targets a contribution of over 40% to its GDP...

The U.S. housing market is undergoing a profound transformation, with the share of first-time homebuyers declining to an unprecedented low. Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reveals that only 24% of buyers this year are purchasing a home for the first time, a significant drop from 32%...

The OPEC Secretariat has announced that eight OPEC+ member countries—Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman—have agreed to extend voluntary production cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for an additional month, extending the reductions through December 2024. These adjustments, initially announced in...