Special Reports

Christmas Day, with its abundance of gift-giving, feasts, and decorations, causes the average Briton’s carbon footprint to soar by a staggering 23 times. A recent analysis reveals that the greenhouse gas emissions generated by each adult on Christmas Day amount to 513kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), compared to an average...

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has highlighted the sustained economic growth of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states, with all countries showing promising GDP performance over the first nine months of this year. According to the EEC, Armenia's GDP expanded by 6%, Belarus by 4.5%, Kazakhstan by 4.1%, Kyrgyzstan...

Africa's mounting debt is significantly reducing funding for sustainable development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), particularly affecting critical sectors like health and education, according to Ms. Oyebanke Abejirin, Economic Affairs Officer at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA). Speaking at the Second Session of the Committee on Economic...

Portola Valley, a scenic California enclave once dubbed the richest town in America, is facing a looming financial crisis. Despite its reputation as a haven for Silicon Valley billionaires, the town’s cash reserves are dwindling, driven by soaring costs and state-imposed affordable housing mandates. Located about an hour south of...

In the United States, nearly 14 million children—or approximately one in five—currently face food insecurity and hunger. This figure represents an improvement from the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number had climbed to nearly 18 million. The issue of child hunger reflects a broader problem of food insecurity...

Indonesia has joined forces with 10 countries to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to enhance regional cooperation to protect fishery resources and ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems. This collaboration was announced by Pung Nugroho Saksono, Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision at the Ministry...

The use of vending machines is on the rise in Thailand, with 58% of Thai consumers indicating a preference for purchasing goods from these machines, according to a survey released on Thursday by market research firm Market Buzzz. Conducted between October 2 and November 7, the survey polled 977 Thai...

From the outset, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasized the critical role of robust national statistics in its success. Recognizing this, Goal 17—focused on strengthening implementation mechanisms and revitalizing global partnerships—includes targets for building statistical capacity and developing measures to track sustainable development progress. As countries implement the Sustainable...

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has projected a 2.4% economic growth rate for the region in 2025, citing domestic consumption as the primary driver. This updated forecast marks a slight increase from the 2.3% estimate made in August, although ECLAC described the region’s...

Demand for public cloud services is accelerating across Asia Pacific as enterprises increasingly recognize the strategic importance of investing in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to compete globally, according to a new report from Information Services Group (ISG). The 2024 ISG Provider Lens™ Multi Public Cloud Services report highlights...