In the second quarter, Angola's exports fell by 17.6%, landing at 4.8 billion kwanzas ($5.76 million). Meanwhile, imports surged by 25.4%, reaching 2.3 billion kwanzas ($2.76 million). As a result, the trade balance stayed positive, totaling 2.5 billion kwanzas ($3 million). Oil dominated the scene, constituting 95% of total exports. Precious stones and metals took […]
Cape Verde's Industrial Production Index rose 3.4% year-over-year in Q2 2023. This is a 1.7% increase from the previous quarter. Cape Verde is the second freest economy in Africa, behind Mauritius, scoring higher than some European countries. The National Institute of Statistics (INE) also reported a 2.6% hike in the Industrial Production Price Index. Moreover, […]
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 states have filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company unlawfully upholds an online monopoly, according to an FTC release. Lina Khan, FTC Chair, emphasized that Amazon uses coercive tactics to maintain its dominant position. The FTC has multiple ongoing probes against Amazon, focused on areas like […]
China announced plans for a trilateral summit with South Korea and Japan. The news came after a high-level meeting in Seoul. This event aims to ease China’s concerns over growing U.S. security ties with both Asian nations. Wang Wenbin, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said mutual interests drive this cooperation. A preparatory Foreign Ministers’ meeting will […]
Brazil's Central Bank, in a recent meeting, indicated fewer rapid interest rate cuts due to high long-term inflation expectations. The bank stated that significant positive surprises would be needed to change this pace. They aim to stabilize inflation expectations, currently above the 3% target for 2024 to 2026. Some board members worry about these steady […]
Last year, illegal operations in Venezuela generated an estimated $9.4 billion. A study by Transparency Venezuela and Ecoanalitica confirmed this. This amount makes up 16% of the country’s GDP. Moreover, it contributes to 56% of the government’s total income. Fuel and gold smuggling are on the rise. Similarly, drug trafficking has increased over the last […]
Inflation remains the top global worry for the 18th month, says a new Ipsos report. It reveals that 38% of people in 29 countries cite it as their main concern. Next on the list is crime at 32%. This exceeds levels before the pandemic hit. Additionally, poverty and social inequality stand at 31%. Corruption and […]
Brazil's oil giant Petrobras is courting Chinese banks for deep-sea exploration funds. The move aligns with Brazil's strategy to strengthen its partnership with China. These talks aim to secure affordable capital for upcoming projects. China is Brazil's biggest trade ally, buying almost a third of its exports. In a recent interview, CFO Sergio Caetano Leite […]
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is ready to meet with Irfaan Ali, his Guyanese counterpart. They aim to discuss the Esequibo border dispute. Maduro mentioned this on his TV show. He suggested the Caribbean as a possible meeting place. The talks would follow the guidelines of the Geneva Agreement. Moreover, Maduro criticized U.S. involvement in the […]
Recently in Buenos Aires, the Liberty and Democracy Group of Ibero-American conservative leaders convened to discuss strengthening liberal democracies. The focus was on global issues like rising populism and drug trafficking. This was their second gathering, with the first in Chile in March 2023. Political expert Julio Aguirre sees this as a historic coordination among […]
On Tuesday, Brazilian Defense Secretary José Múcio revealed that 2023 defense exports had reached $1.1 billion. This marks a 60% increase over last year's total. Additionally, Múcio mentioned a new funding package to invest R$53 ($10.7) billion in critical technology. This initiative, announced by President Lula, aims to boost national sovereignty. Lastly, he clarified that […]
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) recently reported varying inflation rates. The 12-month Broad Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) revealed a low of 3.61% in Rio de Janeiro and a high of 6.16% in the Federal District. On average, the nation saw a 5% increase in prices. IBGE tracks inflation in nine city regions […]
Google proudly commemorates its milestone 25th anniversary this year. Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google at Stanford, and swiftly steered it from a mere search engine to a digital advertising powerhouse. Now, it manages 8.5 billion daily searches and actively serves ads to 89 million websites. Today, under Alphabet Inc., it’s valued at an […]
Brazil, while leading in soybean exports worldwide, risks losing market share in the European Union. This is due to a lack of data on eco-friendly practices. Starting in 2025, the EU will demand proof that imports are free from deforestation. This applies to legal and illegal cases. Companies must also follow Brazil's Forest Code. Recent […]
Malaysia’s recent state elections left many questioning the future. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim‘s unity government held on, but just barely. However, a few key elements seem to keep the government stable for now. Firstly, a 2022 law prevents lawmakers from easily switching parties. This anti-hopping law keeps the unity government intact. Previously, defections had brought […]
(Opinion) Brazil’s consistent underperformance in the World Talent Retaining Ranking reflects its deep-rooted systemic failures. Lagging at 63rd among 64 countries, Brazil finds itself ahead of only Mongolia, with Switzerland reigning at the top. This trend, steady since 2014, serves as a wake-up call we cannot afford to ignore. The funding disparity in education between […]
Brazil ranks 63rd out of 64 countries in the IMD's World Talent Retaining Ranking. Switzerland tops the list, as usual. Notably, only Mongolia performs worse than Brazil. One key difference is public education spending. Switzerland spends $26,000 on each student annually. In contrast, Brazil invests only $1,900. Nevertheless, Brazil allocates 5.9% of its GDP to […]
Brazil's health regulator, Anvisa, has made home delivery of regulated medicines permanent. Initially, this policy was a temporary pandemic measure. However, Anvisa adjusted the maximum amount allowed per prescription. The higher pandemic-era limits are no longer valid. For example, the old rules permitted delivery of up to 18 vials for a six-month supply. The new […]
Brazil trails in the carbon credit market despite its vast natural resources, as highlighted by a recent WayCarbon study. Among forest-rich nations like Indonesia and Congo, Brazil secures fewer investments. Over a decade, Latin America saw $7.5 billion in carbon projects. Brazil could claim more. The country can issue 860 million tons of carbon credits […]
For the first time, British Eurofighter Typhoon jets joined Finland's annual Baana exercise. Held from September 18 to 22, the event aimed to test road-based aircraft operations. Both day and night tests took place, affirming the Eurofighter's flexibility. This jet is a UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain project. The drill mimicked real combat conditions. Efficiency […]
Angel Studios' 'Sound of Freedom' debuted in Brazil last Thursday and swiftly became the top box office hit. Comscore Movies, a tracking firm, confirmed its lead. On its website, Angel Studios offers free tickets for those who can't afford them. Generous patrons make these complimentary entries possible. The company sets a clear goal. It encourages […]
Vasco secured a 1-0 win over América-MG at Independência Stadium in Belo Horizonte. This win occurred during a delayed 15th round match of the Brasileirão. A last-minute goal by Jair lifted Vasco out of the relegation zone after four long months. América’s defender, Maidana, received a red card just before halftime. This gave Vasco a […]
A Thai court has sentenced Anon Numpa, a pro-democracy leader, to four years in prison. He was convicted for defaming the royal family during a 2020 protest. Anon called for revising laws that protect the king and his relatives from criticism. On Tuesday, the Bangkok Criminal Court ruled his speech defamed (lese majesty) the royal […]
Following Azerbaijan’s military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan reports that 13,000 people have sought refuge in Armenia. Additionally, a fuel depot explosion claimed 20 lives and injured 280 people. Local authorities are calling for international aid. So far, 20 fatalities are confirmed and 13 remain unidentified. Meanwhile, cars line up at the Lachin corridor, the only […]
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called for a sweeping UN reform. He believes the body needs shaking up to address global issues. He believes the UN should launch a worldwide plan against poverty and inequality. Such a plan would involve global organizations like the World Bank and IMF, as well as wealthy individuals. López […]
