Insurance rates for ships entering the Black Sea have jumped 250% after targeted Ukrainian attacks on vessels linked to Moscow. This surge isn’t just about higher costs—it exposes a hidden leverage point in global maritime logistics. Black Sea ports act as strategic chokepoints for regional trade, making insurance

Australia’s annual GDP growth reached a two-year high in Q3 2025, outpacing many advanced economies still grappling with sluggish rebounds. Australia’s economy grew faster than expected, driven by strong consumption and export sectors, spotlighting a divergence from global slowdowns. But this isn’t just a tale of numbers—

Raising capital from consumers usually costs startups millions in marketing and banking fees. Nothing is flipping that model by letting its community buy shares at its $1.3 billion Series C valuation starting December 10. This move isn’t just fundraising—it’s a calculated step toward being IPO-ready within

Airbus has trimmed its 2025 delivery target due to production issues with its top-selling jet, a move that signals far more than temporary delays. The manufacturer’s need to dial back deliveries underlines deeper systemic challenges rooted in global aerospace supply chains and manufacturing complexity. But this isn’t just

Telus Corp. faces a stark trade-off: its share price is sliding as investors pressure it to cut debt, forcing the telecom giant to pause future dividend hikes. This move in Canadian markets signals a shift in investor tolerance for leveraged growth. But the deeper story is about how high debt

Pharmaceutical outreach in Malaysia fails to reach thousands of frontline doctors with lean clinic teams outside major urban centers. Malaysia’s pharma sales landscape still largely ignores towns like Ipoh and Kota Bharu, where independent doctors serve diverse populations yet receive minimal tailored support. This is not a technology deficit

While the United States retreats from its climate finance pledges, China is quietly reshaping global funding flows with its internationalization of the yuan. This shift is changing how developing countries access billions for climate adaptation, bypassing traditional Western-dominated channels. The key is currency leverage—which creates a new, compounding funding

European defense budgets are defying hopes for rapid scaling down, staying elevated over the next 10-15 years. Hensoldt, a leading European defense tech company, confirmed this on Bloomberg, with CEO Oliver Doerre stressing that a peace deal in Ukraine wouldn’t reduce demand for military equipment. This counters the simplistic

Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem is often dismissed as nascent and volatile compared to Western counterparts. Yet, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India just raised US$541 million to back early-stage founders, signaling a strategic pivot in the region’s venture capital playbook. This fund is not just capital; it

The scale of startup events typically faces a natural ceiling due to logistics and diminishing engagement returns. IIT Bombay is pushing that boundary by planning to host an unprecedented 50,000 attendees and over 1,000 startups at its E-Summit 2025 on December 11-12. But this isn’t just a

Hong Kong’s insurance industry just uncovered a network of 8,700 policies tied to victims of the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire. About 30 insurers, including AIA and Manulife, have identified 7,600 life and 1,100 property policies associated with residents impacted by last week’s blaze. This

Administrative costs consume up to 80% more in hospitals that rely on paper records. Healthcare providers worldwide racing to modernise have rediscovered the power of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) systems. These solutions are not about shiny innovation but about digitally restructuring workflows to eliminate

Investor excitement is fueling eye-popping AI valuations despite consumer signs of saturation. Anthropic is reportedly preparing for an IPO that could value the company at $300 billion as early as 2026. Yet central banks including the Bank of England and prominent investors like Michael Burry warn this is part of

Approximately 30% of global data pertains to healthcare, yet access to patient data remains a persistent hurdle worldwide. Jonda Health, a Southeast Asia-based health tech startup, is building a fully encrypted, centrally accessible data system designed to break down these silos. But this isn’t just about digitization—it’s

Global stablecoins face fierce regulatory scrutiny, with costs and delays soaring as governments clamp down. China is changing that narrative by lobbying for an offshore yuan stablecoin, a move backed by prominent Chinese tech giants. This effort isn’t just about cryptocurrency adoption—it’s about establishing a new financial

Copper demand is expected to surge globally as electrification and green tech ramp up. Glencore Plc aims to boost copper production to about 1.6 million tons a year by 2035, reversing a slump that hit its output in recent years. But this isn’t merely a volume play. The

Corporate spending on routine tasks runs into the billions annually—yet Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, says most businesses have barely scratched the surface of AI automation. In a December 2025 interview at Harvard University, Schmidt called AI 'under-hyped,' arguing its true impact will come from automating the

China faces a rare challenge: deflation dragging down consumer demand and investment growth, unlike most major economies targeting moderate inflation. For 2026, the Chinese government is setting a high bar with a 5% GDP growth goal to reverse this trend. This is not a simple stimulus play—it’s a

AI startups trade at valuations echoing the dot-com bubble, with over 23x revenue multiples despite uncertain commercial viability. Yet, a quieter, structurally superior opportunity is emerging: the global ageing economy. By 2050, up to 1.6 billion people will be aged over 65—doubling children under five—with the US

Governments worldwide spend billions mandating preloaded apps to gain direct digital reach—India’s reversal on this front is a rare pivot. India’s telecom ministry announced that the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app will remain voluntary, dropping plans to pre-install it on smartphones. But this isn’t just a compliance

China's robotics scene is evolving faster than most expect. Daimon Robotics Technology, a Shenzhen-based humanoid start-up, just secured fresh funding from China Mobile's Lianchang Fund. This move isn't simply capital infusion—it's a strategic push to build AI-powered robotics ecosystems through state

AI-driven cybersecurity spending globally has ballooned amid increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Mirror Security, an AI cybersecurity startup, secured $2.5 million in pre-seed funding in late 2025 to scale its AI defense solutions. This capital injection is not just about expanding product features—it’s about leveraging AI to automate threat

Autonomous vehicle pilots often start with no safety drivers, but Uber and Avride chose a different path in Dallas. In December 2025, they launched their robotaxi service with a human safety operator physically behind the wheel, monitoring each ride. This method isn't just cautious; it’s a strategic

Nike, Superdry, and Lacoste lost their ads in the UK for misleading 'sustainability' claims, according to the advertising watchdog in December 2025. This ban highlights a rising cost in false environmental marketing that directly impacts how brands leverage consumer trust. But the ruling isn’t just about honesty—

Obesity rates in Asia are rising faster than global averages, yet most digital weight loss apps remain western-centric and imprecise for local diets. Singapore-based Welling AI launched an AI-powered nutrition assistant in 2025 that redefines weight loss by tailoring support to Asian eating habits with culturally aware data. But this