When the average dinner conversation turns to global inequality, the noble idea of foreign aid tends to make an appearance. Politicians pat themselves on the back for budgeted billions in development assistance. Yet, behind the scenes and without red carpets, a much bigger financial force has been steadily growing: migrant remittances.

When it comes to moving people across vast distances, the world remains heavily tilted toward roads. But the degree to which countries rely on roads versus rails varies significantly—and tellingly—across economies.

The long-simmering rivalry between Israel and Iran—once confined to the shadows through cyberattacks, sabotage, and proxy warfare—has erupted into direct confrontation. What began as a cold conflict has ignited into a hot and costly display of firepower. With missiles flying and military assets mobilized, the financial toll is becoming ever more apparent.

In the early 2000s Berlin teetered on the edge of insolvency. Burdened by reunification’s hangover—soaring unemployment, a creaking housing market and yawning budget deficits—the city risked collapse. Enter Klaus Wowereit, newly elected Mayor and master of the soundbite. In 2003 he quipped, “Berlin is poor, but sexy,” reframing municipal misery as a badge of creative freedom. He served from 2001 to 2014.

Yesterday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented his first national budget under the Kenya Kwanza administration, unveiling a bold KSh 4.3 trillion spending plan for the 2025/2026 financial year. But with only KSh 3.34 trillion in expected revenue, the numbers reveal a clear tension: ambition is outpacing affordability. The nearly KSh 900 billion gap will be bridged by debt, a choice that underscores both urgency and risk.

In 2020, if ten patients walked into a Kenyan health facility, nearly two of them were battling malaria. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has plummeted—now, just one in twenty patients presents with the disease. This remarkable turnaround is captured in data from the Economic Survey 2025, which shows malaria cases falling from 19.1% of all reported illnesses in 2020 to just 5.1% in 2024.

Kenya’s public university system is approaching a financial cliff edge. Between 2021 and 2024, public university enrolment grew by 14%—from 448,000 to 522,000 students—while private university numbers declined by 5%. The shift signals growing reliance on public institutions. But as the number of students rises, the financial foundations beneath these universities are rapidly eroding.

If education were a product loaded onto ships and tracked at ports, America would be a top global exporter. Yet, in a political environment increasingly hostile to foreign students, the country risks undercutting one of its few enduring trade advantages. According to the Institute of International Education, the United States hosted more than one million international students in the 2022–2023 academic year, compared to just over 300,000 American students studying abroad.

In May 2004, the European Union witnessed its largest-ever expansion. Ten countries joined the bloc, gaining access to the EU’s single market—a transformative shift that enabled the free flow of goods, capital, services, and people. Among these entrants was Poland, a nation whose GDP per capita at the time stood at just $21,200, roughly half that of the EU average.

In much of Africa, agriculture is more than a livelihood—it’s the backbone of the economy. Countries like Ethiopia, Liberia, and Malawi see over 30% of their GDP coming from farming. In Burundi, it’s even more extreme: agriculture accounts for nearly 40%. But here’s the catch: these same countries cluster at the bottom of the GDP-per-capita scale, hovering around just $1,000–$3,700. And despite the sector's size, productivity remains low, often due to outdated techniques.

China’s roads used to hum with the roar of internal combustion engines. Not anymore. In 2024, nearly half of all new cars sold in China—48%—are electric, a figure that dwarfs the global average of 22% and places China well ahead of most advanced economies.

Africa accounts for 19% of the world’s population but only 3% of global GDP. This disparity is starkly visible in its energy investment: while Africa spends 3.6% of GDP on energy, slightly more than the global average of 2.9%—its investment per capita is just USD 68, compared to the global average of USD 402. According to World Energy Investment 2025 - IEA.

In a country where government opacity once seemed entrenched, something remarkable is happening: local administrations are finally letting the light in. Kenya’s County Budget Transparency Survey 2024 (CBTS), under the banner Open Budgets, Open Dialogue, by Bajeti Hub, reveals a dramatic leap in fiscal openness. Just four years ago, most counties failed to publish even half of their legally required budget documents. Today, that tide has turned. The share of key documents made

Kenya has made meaningful strides toward cleaner cooking energy. According to the 2023/2024 Kenya Housing Survey, 34.4% of households now use clean fuels like LPG, electricity, ethanol, and biogas. Urban areas have seen the sharpest shift—71.5% of city households rely on clean energy, with Nairobi leading at a near-universal 95.1%. Yet behind these headline gains lies a far grimmer reality: rural Kenya remains shrouded in smoke.

Every year, millions apply for Schengen visas, dreaming of European holidays, family reunions, or global conferences. But behind the polished consulate windows lies a costly truth: a €90 non-refundable fee per adult applicant, charged whether you’re accepted or not. In 2024, Africa alone lost nearly $70 million to rejected Schengen visa applications. That’s not just paperwork—it’s a financial black hole for individuals and economies already stretched thin.

In the fight against climate change, the most dramatic transformations often unfold quietly. Kenya, with little fanfare, has staged an energy revolution. In 2024, nearly 92% of the country’s electricity came from renewable sources—a feat that puts many industrial giants to shame.

Kenya’s carbon market is booming, and one category dominates: Household & Community projects. These initiatives—ranging from improved cookstoves to water purification systems—deliver dual benefits: reducing emissions while improving lives. But they’re also carbon goldmines. Just six top projects have issued over 14 million credits, accounting for nearly 40% of Gold Standard credits in Kenya, cementing the country’s position as a regional leader.

In the world of wildlife conservation, “endangered” is not just a label—it is a countdown. Species earn the title when their numbers fall so low that extinction in the wild becomes a plausible outcome. By that measure, Kenya’s mountain bongo and hirola antelopes have spent the past two decades flirting with disappearance. Now, thanks to careful intervention, both are beginning to multiply quietly, cautiously, but undeniably.

Ambition is abundant. Reactors are not. Africa is running out of power—and patience. With a booming population and surging demand, the continent is desperate for reliable electricity. Renewables dominate headlines, but in the background, a more controversial energy source is quietly returning to the agenda: nuclear power. For many African governments, the atom promises clean, steady baseload energy. But while the ambition is bold, actual progress remains uneven—and often p

Since 2021, tourism for leisure has overtaken business as the dominant reason for visiting Kenya—a trend that continues to gain ground. In 2020, Kenya’s tourism industry—like most of the world’s—was brought to its knees by the pandemic. Visitor-days plummeted to just 4.7 million, with business travel (2.6 million visitor-days) narrowly ahead of holiday travel (2 million). But by 2021, as international mobility resumed, a shift emerged. Holiday-related visits jumped to 5.5