Special Reports

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...

In a significant step for the remote Highland community near Ullapool, Ross, and Cromarty, the 8,000-acre Badentarbat Estate has been transferred to local ownership, marking a transformative moment for the area. Wealthy financier and philanthropist Ian Wace, owner of the estate, contributed $2.26 million to facilitate the transfer, enabling the...

The 2024 Global Economic Crimes Survey (GECS) reflects the two-year period following the COVID-19 pandemic, a time marked by widespread adaptation to new operational norms. This “new normal” has seen businesses increasingly adopt hybrid work models that blend remote and in-person collaboration, optimize supply chains, adapt to evolving consumer preferences...

Stagwell has published the results of a global survey that explored the perspectives of 100 CEOs on their 2025 priorities, anticipated impacts of the U.S. presidential election on economic and political stability, and interest in investing in the Gulf region. The findings were presented by Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark...