Misheck Mutize, University of Cape Town Over the past two decades, African countries have increasingly turned to international capital markets to meet their development financing needs. For example, Kenya and Benin raised a combined US$2.5 billion through bond issuances during the first half of 2025. Proceeds were used to repay maturing bonds. This
Maria Garcia, University of Bath; Conor O’Kane, Bournemouth University; Kamran Mahroof, University of Bradford; Mausam Budhathoki, University of Stirling, and Phil Tomlinson, University of Bath The UK and EU have announced a range of historic and wide-ranging new agreements touching on trade, defence and borders. Since the 2016 Brexit vote, COVID and conflict
Ph. William Barton/Shutterstock Linda Yueh, University of Oxford “Iron-clad” and “non-negotiable” is how UK prime minister Keir Starmer recently described the country’s fiscal rules. The government has been coming under pressure to relax the rules and cut itself some financial slack. But according to the PM, these self-imposed restrictions are vital for maintaining
Ph. US alcohol has been removed from sale in the Canadian province of British Columbia. lenic/Shutterstock Alan Bradshaw, Royal Holloway University of London and Dannie Kjeldgaard, University of Southern Denmark As politicians around the world scramble to respond to US “liberation day” tariffs, consumers have also begun flexing their muscles. “Boycott USA” messages
A cargo ship and containers are seen at the Port of Keelung in Taiwan on April 3, 2025. I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University What would the United States stand to lose economically if its current access to the Taiwanese market were upended or totally restricted? This seemingly theoretical
Red, white, or rosé, sparkling or still, dry or fruity, wine is deeply embedded in European culture. But so are attempts to counterfeit good wines. Except that researchers have now created a smart system that could put an end to such transgressions. Countering the counterfeits Counterfeiting spirits and wine costs European businesses €1.3 billion
Central Macedonia, a region on the northern mainland of Greece, is an important producer of food. It generates a quarter of the country’s agricultural output and is the source of much of Greece’s table olives, peaches, wine and dairy products. But this productivity also results in large amounts of agricultural waste. EU-funded researchers
Economic indicators are indispensable instruments for gauging the health of an economy and anticipating future trajectories. By analysing these quantitative benchmarks, policymakers, businesses, and investors can craft well-informed strategies to manage risks and seize opportunities. Spanning areas such as employment, inflation, and consumer behaviour, these indicators offer a holistic perspective on economic performance,
Machines have always fascinated Dr Didem Gürdür Broo, a computer scientist from Cyprus with a PhD in mechatronics. It was a childhood dream of hers to learn to code and build things. So, as soon as she was old enough, she decided to enter the field of computer science. As her studies advanced,
Research and Development (R&D) stands as the beating heart of technological progress, driving the transformative ideas that shape industries and societies alike. It is more than a systematic process; it is a harmonious fusion of creativity, exploration, and collaboration, converting abstract concepts into groundbreaking innovations. In an era of relentless technological evolution, R&D