AU Assembly Endorses AUDA‑NEPAD Priorities, Appoints New HSGOC Chair and Renews CEO Mandate
The African Union General Assembly endorsed AUDA‑NEPAD’s priority agenda for the acceleration phase of the Second Ten‑Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, reaffirming its mandate across human capital, agriculture, climate resilience, health, industrialisation and infrastructure. It appointed Angola President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço as chair of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee for a two‑year term, succeeding Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi. The Assembly also renewed the four‑year mandate of CEO Nardos Bekele‑Thomas, the agency’s first female chief executive. Under her leadership, AUDA‑NEPAD’s revenue surged from roughly $30 million to over $300 million, expanding its capacity to fund continent‑wide development programmes.
South Africa’s Unemployment Rate Eases to 31.4%
South Africa's overall unemployment rate slipped to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 31.9% in the prior quarter and marking a second consecutive decline after a peak of 33.2% a year earlier. Employment rose by 44,000, reaching...
India Seeks New Steel Export Markets in Middle East and Asia to Offset EU Carbon Tax Impact: Report
India, the world’s second‑largest crude‑steel producer, is pivoting toward the Middle East and Asian markets to cushion the impact of the European Union’s new carbon border adjustment tax. Roughly two‑thirds of its steel exports currently flow to Europe, where the...
Fund Managers Alarmed over Corporate Spending Even as Optimism at Five-Year High
Fund managers are at a five‑year high of bullishness, yet a record share warn that corporate America is overspending on capital expenditures amid uncertain returns. In Bank of America’s February survey of 162 managers, cash balances rose in February, signaling...
Thai Banks’ Bad Loans Dip Slightly
Thai banks’ non‑performing loan ratio slipped to 2.84% at December, down from 2.94% in September. Bank lending fell 1.1% in Q4 2025, marking the sixth straight quarter of contraction, driven by tighter credit to SMEs and consumers. Household debt remains...
Nearshore Hiring Moves Beyond Engineering as US Firms Place Revenue Teams in Latin America
U.S. companies are expanding nearshore hiring beyond software engineering to include sales, customer success, and support teams in Latin America. The customer‑success market is projected to reach $16.5 billion by 2033, while bilingual support job postings have risen 50% year‑over‑year. Talent...
India’s Next Big Power Move Is Set to Unfold in the Bay of Bengal
India’s National Green Tribunal has approved the Rs 90,000‑crore Great Nicobar mega‑infrastructure project, clearing the way for a new International Container Transshipment Port at Galethea Bay. The first phase, slated for 2028, will handle over 4 million TEUs annually, with full capacity...
Kenya’s Arc Ride Secures $5 Million IFC Commitment for Regional Expansion
Kenyan e‑mobility startup Arc Ride has secured a $5 million equity commitment from the International Finance Corporation to fuel its Series A round and regional rollout. The funding will accelerate the deployment of battery‑swapping stations across East Africa, complementing earlier debt deals...
Will Indonesia’s US$762 Million Ramadan Stimulus Be a ‘Positive’ Boost for the Economy?
Indonesia has unveiled a US$762 million, 12.83 trillion‑rupiah stimulus aimed at bolstering Ramadan consumption. The package includes transport fare discounts of up to 30%, full‑fare ferry rides, and food parcels for low‑income families. Officials hope the measures will sustain mobility and purchasing...
STAT+: As China’s Drug Industry Races Ahead, Its GLP-1 Race Is Accelerating Too
China’s pharmaceutical sector is rapidly expanding, now generating its own GLP‑1 drugs alongside imported treatments. Novo Nordisk reported a 5% decline in Ozempic sales in China last year, the first dip since its 2021 launch, while sales grew elsewhere. The...
Private Credit: Poised For Growth
Asia‑Pacific private credit is entering a rapid expansion phase, with issuance projected to rise from $59 billion in 2024 to $92 billion by 2027. Industry leaders such as SC Lowy and Moody’s cite digitalization, the energy transition, and infrastructure needs as primary catalysts,...
Cash Craze: Currency in Circulation Touches Record Rs 40 Lakh Crore
India's currency in circulation reached a record Rs 40 lakh crore in January 2026, up 11.1% year‑on‑year, while the cash‑to‑GDP ratio slipped to about 11.2%, down from a pandemic peak of 14.4%. Over the past decade, cash holdings have risen from Rs 11.8 lakh crore in...
Overseas and E-Commerce Payments to Be Made Easier in Ethiopia
The National Bank of Ethiopia announced sweeping foreign‑exchange reforms, letting exporters retain 100% of their foreign‑currency earnings in designated accounts and permitting banks to issue payment cards linked to those accounts. The minimum $100 requirement for foreign‑exchange savings accounts has...
Trump’s New Arms Rules Will Hit Southeast Asia
President Trump issued an executive order establishing an “America First” arms export strategy that rewards allies who invest in self‑defense, occupy critical geography, or contribute to U.S. economic security. The rubric pushes the Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia toward priority status...
Entire Financial Sector Steps Firmly Into a New Spring
Vietnam’s finance ministry reported a record $106.6 bn state budget revenue in 2025, surpassing forecasts by 35.5 %. The ministry issued 144 circulars—about a quarter of all national normative documents—while rolling out 28 laws and 86 decrees to support digital transformation, new...
Deloitte: 95% of Indian Consumers Will Pay for SDVs
Deloitte’s 2026 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that 95% of Indian car buyers are ready to pay extra for software‑defined vehicle (SDV) capabilities such as safety, security and health monitoring. The same respondents view SDVs as helpful (81%) and are...
Expectations Are Low for the Latest US-Brokered Talks Between Russia and Ukraine
Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks, but expectations are low that they will produce a breakthrough before the war's fourth anniversary. Both sides remain entrenched on territorial demands, with Russia insisting on broader land claims and...
Europe’s Next War
Europe faces heightened risk of a broader NATO‑Russia confrontation as the Ukraine war drags on. Over the past four years, NATO allies have poured hundreds of billions of dollars in military, economic, and humanitarian aid into Ukraine, while European nations...
Ukraine and the New Way of War
Four years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion, the Ukraine war has defied early forecasts by persisting far longer and costing both sides more than anticipated. Kyiv’s ability to adapt, innovate militarily, and marshal extensive U.S., European, and global support has been...
How Bad Bunny’s Power Pole Dance Spotlighted the Colonial Legacy of Energy Poverty
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl pole‑dance performance turned a global stage into a protest against Puerto Rico’s chronic power outages. The artist highlighted how the island’s unreliable grid is a direct legacy of U.S. colonial energy policies that deny residents federal...
Walmart’s Sam’s Club Cracks China Market Formula Even as Foreign Retailers Shut Shop
Walmart‑owned Sam’s Club is expanding in China by deepening localisation, offering China‑specific products such as ginseng, copper‑gourd ornaments, and right‑sized private‑label packs. The chain opened ten new stores in 2025, bringing its footprint to 63 locations and shifting focus to...
Dizon Plans Procurement Overhaul to Lure ‘Legitimate’ Builders Back to DPWH
The Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will adopt a fast‑track procurement system modeled on the Board of Investments' "green lane" to lure reputable builders back after recent flood‑control contract scandals. Secretary Vince Dizon said the new process...
JICA Mulls Resuming ODA Loans to Pakistan After Decadelong Hiatus
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is weighing a restart of official development assistance (ODA) loans to Pakistan after a ten‑year hiatus. The move reflects improving macro‑economic indicators, including steadier growth and reduced fiscal stress. JICA’s decision will be coordinated with...
Vietnam's Airports, Money Controls Said to Deter Tech Investors
Vietnam’s startup funding has slowed as investors cite cross‑border frictions, notably congested airports and strict capital controls. The newly opened Long Thanh International Airport is intended to ease Ho Chi Minh City’s traffic but has yet to deliver full relief....
Copper Becomes BHP's Biggest Earner as Profits Soar
BHP reported that copper now accounts for the majority of its earnings for the first time, propelling a sharp rise in six‑month profit and revenue. The miner’s shift away from iron ore, which is suffering from weaker Chinese demand, has...
Mayor Isko Leads Chinese New Year Countdown in Binondo
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso led the Chinese New Year countdown in Binondo, welcoming Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and highlighting deepening Philippines‑China ties. He announced that new flights to Cebu will boost tourism, jobs, and business, and reported a...
Dangote Signs $400 Million Equipment Deal to Fast-Track Refinery Expansion and Boost Petrochemical Capacity
Dangote Group has inked a $400 million deal with China’s XCMG to acquire heavy‑construction equipment that will fast‑track the expansion of its petroleum refinery from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day. The upgrade will also boost petrochemical outputs, including polypropylene, urea...
Real vs Technical Inflation: Which Should Guide Monetary Policy in Nigeria?
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics rebased its Consumer Price Index to a 2024 base year, pulling headline inflation down from 24.48% in January 2025 to 15.15% by December 2025. Critics argue the technical decline masks persistent real inflation, with food prices still...
What Nigeria’s Economy Optimises for — Without Admitting It
Nigeria’s economy is structured to reward navigating bureaucratic friction rather than boosting productivity, efficiency, or innovation. World Bank data shows firms spend over 40% more time on regulations than the regional average, creating a thriving informal ecosystem of brokers, fixers...
EFCC Quizzes El-Rufai, Defends Use of Tear Gas on Protesters
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned former Kaduna governor Nasiru El‑Rufai for questioning over alleged mismanagement of public funds during his 2015‑2023 tenure. While El‑Rufai complied, supporters stormed the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, prompting operatives to deploy tear gas...
Uganda’s Ports Crippled by Encroachment and Neglect
Uganda’s eight lake ports, managed by state‑owned Uganda Railways Corporation, are crippled by illegal land encroachments, military occupations, and climate‑related water level shifts. Key facilities such as Port Bell and Lambu Port face stalled redevelopment despite an African Development Bank...
The Rise of the “Central” Bloc? How Türkiye and Saudi Arabia May Build a New Third Channel for Global Defence...
Turkey and Saudi Arabia concluded a series of defence‑industrial accords in February 2026, covering a fifth‑generation fighter, a utility helicopter, and unmanned naval platforms. The agreements were sealed during President Erdoğan’s Riyadh visit and include a joint KAAN fighter investment...
India's Textile and Apparel Exports Down by 3.75% in January, Outlook Improves Now with India US Interim Deal
India's textile and apparel exports fell 3.75% in January 2026, dropping to $3.27 billion from $3.40 billion a year earlier, primarily due to U.S. tariffs that remained until February 7. Cotton yarn, fabrics and handloom products declined over 4%, while carpet and jute...
Lebanon Says Four Months Needed for Second Phase of Hezbollah Disarmament
Lebanon’s government announced that its army will need at least four months to complete the second phase of the five‑stage plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenals south of the Litani River. The phase targets the corridor between the Litani and Awali...
Russia-Ukraine War: List of Key Events, Day 1,454
Ukraine reclaimed roughly 201 sq km of territory after a Russian Starlink communications outage, while Russia reported downing 345 Ukrainian drones and launching 62 long‑range strike drones overnight. The Czech Republic supplied 4.4 million rounds of large‑calibre ammunition to bolster Kyiv’s firepower. Diplomatic...
Lundin Bags More Credit for Copper Project
Lundin Mining secured an additional credit facility to fund its flagship copper development, expanding the financing previously arranged for the project. The new credit line, sourced from a syndicate of international banks, adds $500 million to the existing $1.2 billion pool,...
Indonesia Readies 1,000 Soldiers for Potential Deployment to Gaza in April
Indonesia may deploy 1,000 troops to Gaza as early as April, part of a UN‑mandated International Stabilization Force that could expand to 8,000 soldiers by June. The decision rests with President Prabowo Subianto, who is also set to attend President...
EU Weighs Sanctions on Georgia’s Kulevi Port over Suspected Russian Oil Links
The European Union is considering adding Georgia’s Black Sea port of Kulevi to its 20th sanctions package, accusing it of facilitating Russian crude shipments that fund the war in Ukraine. The draft targets four ports, marking the bloc’s first move...
ICYMI: China to Remove Tariffs on Imports From 53 African Nations From May 1
China will eliminate tariffs on imports from 53 African nations starting May 1, 2026, expanding the preferential regime beyond the continent’s least‑developed economies. The zero‑tariff policy applies to every African country that maintains diplomatic ties with Beijing and is paired with a...
Oracle Surges 12% While Apple, Amazon Tumble in Choppy Tech Week
Oracle surged 12% after unveiling a multi‑billion AI cloud infrastructure plan, bucking a week where all Magnificent 7 stocks fell year‑to‑date. Microsoft and Amazon slipped into bear‑market territory despite solid earnings, while Apple dropped nearly 8% on memory‑price margin worries. Nvidia...
Suriname's Oil Boom Faces Economic Headwinds Despite Major Discovery
Suriname’s GranMorgu project, a $10.5 billion offshore development by TotalEnergies and APA, targets 760 million barrels and is projected to generate $26 billion in revenue. The field is slated for commissioning in 2028, roughly twice the timeline Guyana achieved for its Stabroek Block....
Philippine “Revolut” Maya Eyes Up to $1 Billion US Listing
Philippine fintech Maya, an all‑in‑one digital banking app, is eyeing a U.S. IPO that could raise up to $1 billion. The platform now serves 5.4 million customers and disbursed 68 billion pesos ($1.2 bn) in loans in 2024. Its filing comes amid a volatile...
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to Push Biopharma, Semiconductor Missions in Norway
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Oslo to promote India’s Biopharma SHAKTI programme and Semiconductor Missions 2.0, seeking long‑term capital from Norwegian partners. She will meet Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and startup leaders at Oslo Science Park to showcase a ₹10,000‑crore,...
Unemployment Rate up a Tad to 5% in January, Higher Rise for Females
India’s unemployment rate ticked up to 5 % in January, a modest rise from 4.8 % in December. The increase was driven primarily by a sharper jump in female joblessness, which reached 5.6 % versus 4.8 % for men. Urban unemployment climbed to 7 %...
Congo Launches Phase 2 LNG Exports From Nguya FLNG Facility
The Republic of Congo has begun Phase 2 LNG exports from the new Nguya FLNG facility, boosting total project capacity to roughly 3 million metric tons per year. Operated by Eni, the unit was commissioned ahead of schedule and shipped its first...
Kinetic Treasury Arrives
J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys platform demonstrated kinetic treasury by instantly minting $40 million of stablecoins using a tokenized vacation‑home as collateral, freeing a semiconductor shipment for a Rotterdam logistics firm. The transaction bridged a retail client’s idle digital asset with an institutional...
Govt Plans ‘Champion CPSEs’ for Viksit Bharat by 2047, NITI Aayog Roadmap Soon
India is preparing a roadmap to create ‘champion’ central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) that will drive economic growth and technological advancement toward a developed nation status by 2047. The plan, drafted by NITI Aayog in coordination with the finance ministry,...
Ireland Leads Charge Against Biggest EU Economies Forming Elite Club
Ireland’s finance minister warned that the newly‑formed “E6” club of Europe’s six biggest economies could sideline smaller states as it pushes ahead on financial‑market integration, euro promotion and defence spending. The E6 – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and...
Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett May Be Rewriting the Rules of Global Tourism Power
Jamaica’s long‑standing tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has released *Destination Reputational Resilience*, a manifesto that places crisis‑ready reputation at the heart of tourism strategy. Co‑authored with Lloyd Waller and backed by a UN foreword, the book signals that resilience is moving...
State Firms Told to Avoid Borrowing when Investing
Thailand's finance ministry has instructed state‑owned enterprises to fund new investments primarily from internal revenues, limiting reliance on borrowing that is classified as public debt. The policy follows a backdrop where public debt stands at 66.1% of GDP, close to...