Category: Business

Despite geopolitical upheavals, the shift from a fossil-fuel-based global economy to one driven by clean electrification remains on track.  According to the International Energy Agency (an autonomous international agency that is not part of the UN system), lithium demand grew by nearly 30 per cent in 2024, and nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths by […]

The immediate impact is visible in sharp increases in transport costs, energy and fertilizer prices, alongside currency pressures and financial market volatility. “The most immediate economic impact…are considerable increases in freight costs and oil, gas and fertilizer prices,” Hamza Ali Malik, Director of Macroeconomic Policy Division at the UN’s Asia-Pacific development arm (ESCAP) told UN […]

At the centre of it lies the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints – which carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers, according to a recent UN report. To better understand the implications of this disruption, and the findings […]

A credit rating is an assessment of how likely a borrower, such as a government, is to repay its debt on time and in full. For sovereign states, ratings influence how much countries pay to borrow in international markets: the lower the rating, the higher the perceived risk and usually the higher the interest costs. […]

And with Brent Crude still trading at more than $100 per barrel, many workers and households have reverted to using oil and coal, raising concerns of lasting environmental damage, while numerous countries have already announced fuel rationing and a move to online meetings. Just over four weeks since Israeli–US bombing of Iran began, sparking the […]

Looking to scale your startup while keeping infrastructure costs predictable and your data secure? The OVHcloud Startup Program 2026 supports startups building digital products on scalable cloud infrastructure — without taking any equity. With up to €100,000 in cloud credits in Europe and up to $150,000 CAD in Canada, plus expert technical guidance and ecosystem […]

SCUNTHORPE, UK — In a major resurgence for British heavy industry, British Steel has secured an “eight-figure” contract to supply 36,000 tonnes of rail for Turkey’s ambitious high-speed rail network. The deal, announced on February 18, 2026, has acted as a historic catalyst for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, which has resumed round-the-clock, 24/7 manufacturing operations […]

The latest edition of Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, UNESCO’s flagship monitoring report covering more than 120 countries, warns that generative AI is projected to drive significant income losses for artists by 2028. ‑generated content in global markets. The report stresses that these disruptions are occurring at a pace that outstrips current policy responses, exacerbating inequalities […]

Mr. De Croo, who chose Gaza for his first overseas visit since being appointed to the top job in November 2025, called for an expansion of access to the occupied territory for UN agencies to strengthen efforts to remove rubble and waste, provide shelter and medical equipment and evacuate patients. On Monday, Mr. De Croo […]