Special Reports

China's economy is experiencing a notable slowdown, prompting the Chinese government to set an ambitious economic growth target of 5.0% for 2024. This target, deemed ambitious by many analysts, may require additional stimulus measures to achieve. Following the disappointing second-quarter figures, Goldman Sachs revised its forecast for China's 2024 growth...

The ASEAN region is projected to advance from the world's fifth to fourth-largest economy by 2030, with its GDP expected to rise by 51% to $3.8 trillion in 2023 from $2.5 trillion in 2015. This optimistic outlook was shared by ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh during the...

Costa Rica has officially recognized Vietnam’s market economy status, becoming the 73rd country to do so, shortly after the United States declined to grant similar recognition. Several major economies, including Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, have already classified Vietnam as a market economy. In contrast,...

Johannesburg, the wealthiest city in Africa with a significant concentration of businesses and approximately 12,300 millionaires, is grappling with a severe infrastructure crisis. The city urgently needs $12 billion to tackle a backlog of maintenance and necessary upgrades for its deteriorating road, power, and water systems. Documents reveal urgent discussions...

Monday saw significant drops in US stock markets following declines in Europe and Asia, fueled by growing concerns about a potential slowdown in the American economy. The technology-heavy Nasdaq index opened with a 6.3% loss after a sharp decline late last week but managed to recover some of its losses...

The American Psychological Association's (APA) 2024 Work in America survey, which gathered responses from various industries and job roles, revealed that 15% of respondents described their workplace as somewhat or very toxic. The survey also highlighted a significant disconnect between employers' perceptions and the actual mental health conditions of their...

Over the past two years, many tech firms have been urging workers back to the office while simultaneously threatening layoffs. Even Zoom reverted to in-person work last year. However, it appears that tech executives have abandoned their push against remote work. Currently, only 3% of tech companies require their employees...

A significant portion of Americans do not possess substantial savings. According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the median balance in Americans' transaction accounts, encompassing checking, savings, and money market accounts, stands at $8,000. The financial landscape is markedly different for the wealthiest Americans. While it is anticipated...

The World Bank has raised concerns that over 100 nations, including China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, may face stagnation in a "middle-income trap" unless they implement significant economic reforms. The institution's latest report highlights the necessity for emerging markets to diversify their growth strategies beyond heavy reliance on investment....

The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), Bain & Company, and the Angsana Council have released a report forecasting an average annual growth rate of 5.1% for Southeast Asia's six leading economies—Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore—over the next decade. The report, titled "Navigating High Winds: Southeast Asia Outlook...