Special Reports

Thailand has expressed its intention to join the BRICS group, which was originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group recently expanded, adding Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia to its ranks. This year, Russia, the host of the BRICS summit, extended...

Despite being impacted by higher prices, Americans have continued to spend heavily at retail stores and restaurants, driven in large part by wealthier consumers. These individuals, benefiting from rising incomes, home equity, and stock market wealth, have significantly contributed to maintaining consumer spending at robust levels. According to research from...

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued fines against Investment Network, Inc. (INI) and its CEO, Gary L. Arnold, following findings of misconduct related to the sale of private placement offerings of pre-initial public offering (pre-IPO) funds to retail customers. These violations occurred between October 2020 and May 2021....

Hong Kong has been ranked the freest economy in the world among 165 economies, according to the "Economic Freedom of the World: 2024 Annual Report" released by the Fraser Institute on October 16. The city climbed one spot from last year to reclaim the top position. In the report's five...

Japan experienced its largest export decline since early 2021 in September, casting doubt on the strength of its economic recovery amid weakening global demand. According to a report from the Ministry of Finance, exports fell by 1.7% year-on-year, driven by a drop in shipments of cars, mineral fuels, and construction...

Africa Center for Strategic Studies reports that 163 million Africans are currently experiencing acute food insecurity, a number that has nearly tripled in just five years, according to new data. Of those affected, 80% reside in conflict-affected countries, with up to 840,000 people at risk of famine in regions such...

A recent survey of 120 global insurance industry leaders indicates strong optimism about their companies' growth potential over the next three years, despite significant challenges in digital transformation, talent acquisition, and sustainability. The KPMG CEO Outlook, now in its tenth year, found that 74% of insurance CEOs expect to see...

Research from the UK economic think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, predicts that Turkey, Russia, and Sweden will see the largest increases in the proportion of millionaires in Europe by 2028. According to the findings from the Institute's Millionaire Tracker report, which analyzes 36 countries, including major economies like the...

Britain's richest retirees are earning as much as $3.9 million annually from their pensions, but nearly half of that is being lost to taxes, according to recent data. HM Revenue & Customs revealed that around 39,000 pensioners in the 2023-24 tax year withdrew taxable pension incomes of at least $64,960....

As the deadline to save 30% of land and sea for nature approaches, only 24 countries have submitted formal plans, despite promises made nearly two years ago. A recent analysis revealed that over 80% of countries have not yet presented their strategies to meet the targets outlined in a United...