Brazil recorded a historic tourism milestone in 2025, welcoming over eight million international visitors—a 40% increase from last year. The surge boosted the economy, generating $6.617 billion in visitor spending and creating more than 114,000 jobs. With strong marketing and a focus on sustainable tourism, Brazil is expected to exceed nine million visitors by year-end.

The Q4 2025 global economic outlook has been upgraded to 2.62% growth, supported by policy-driven demand, easing inflation, and partial tariff rollbacks. Inflation is expected to decline in most regions except the Americas, while major central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and ECB, have cut interest rates to support demand. Global merchandise trade is forecast to grow 2.4% in 2025, though risks remain due to tariffs, supply chain pressures, and weakening demand in

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar warned that global politics increasingly outweighs economics, urging India to diversify its supply chains to ensure resilience and national security. He highlighted shifts in the global order, with the US pursuing individualized engagement and China operating independently, increasing uncertainties for countries worldwide.

Healing Arts Singapore, held from 8–12 December 2025, launches Asia’s first national arts and health initiative in collaboration with NUS, NAFA, UAS, the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and WHO. The programme introduces major regional platforms including the first Healing Arts Centre of Excellence in Asia and the new THRivE evaluation toolkit for arts and heritage practitioners.

Cyclone Ditwah is expected to push Sri Lanka’s inflation higher due to damage to agriculture and disruptions in supply chains. Analysts warn the rupee may weaken further as the country increases imports of essential goods. The LKR has already depreciated 1.3% in the past month amid low forex liquidity and higher import demand.

Sri Lanka’s interest rates have risen in October as banks increased deposit collection amid strong loan demand, despite earlier rate cuts and controversial liquidity injections by the central bank. Analysts warn that recent monetary practices risk repeating past currency crises, especially as the rupee weakened again in 2025. The post-Cyclone Ditwah recovery adds uncertainty, with the government planning major spending and expecting IMF and World Bank support.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been named Sri Lanka’s Best Trade Finance Bank at the Euromoney Transaction Banking Awards 2025 for its strong leadership in supporting national trade. The Bank commands significant market share—21% in exports and 14.26% in imports—and handled over US$ 5 billion in trade transactions in 2024. Its digital platform, ComBank TradeLink, along with regional recognition from ADB, further strengthens its position as the country’s leading private sector

Asia’s natural gas demand has grown significantly since 2015—driven mainly by China—while many other Asian countries are seeing declining consumption. Falling domestic gas production is pushing the region toward higher LNG imports, despite LNG being far more expensive than locally produced gas. IEEFA warns that this shift creates economic and competitiveness risks for key sectors across Asia, even if

An overnight exchange of fire along the Afghan-Pakistan border killed five Afghan civilians and injured eight people on both sides, with each country blaming the other for starting the clash. The incident occurred despite a fragile two-month ceasefire and comes amid heightened tensions linked to recent militant attacks and cross-border accusations. The renewed violence follows Pakistan’s decision to allow UN aid supplies into Afghanistan and coincides with Pakistan’s security

The Middle East Peace and Security Forum 2025 in Duhok brought together Kurdish, Iraqi, and regional leaders to focus on practical cooperation for stability, humanitarian access, and reconstruction. Its unprecedented Kurdish unity and technical working-group structure signalled a shift toward operational, depoliticised diplomacy. The forum’s impact now depends on whether its working groups deliver measurable progress and sustain political momentum over the next year.

Greece's finance minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, has been appointed president of the Eurogroup, reflecting the country’s strong economic recovery since its debt crisis. Greece now enjoys steady growth, high investment rates, budget surpluses, and declining public debt despite remaining the highest in Europe. As Eurogroup President, Pierrakakis will represent the euro area at G7 meetings, shape agendas, and foster consensus among member states.

Cyclone Ditwah caused about US$4.1 billion in direct physical damage across Sri Lanka, affecting all 25 districts, around 2 million people, and nearly 500,000 households, making it one of the worst disasters in recent history. The infrastructure sector was the hardest hit, accounting for 42% of losses (US$1.735 billion), followed by housing (US$985 million) and agriculture (US$814 million), with the Central Province — especially Kandy — suffering the most severe impacts.

The IMF projects that inflation in Pakistan will rise in the coming years, potentially reaching nearly 9% by mid-2026, increasing pressure on households and businesses. While GDP growth is expected to remain moderate at just over 3%, high public debt and fiscal constraints continue to limit economic stability. The IMF warns that careful monetary and fiscal management will be necessary to control prices while sustaining growth.

Pro-Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on France’s postal service, La Poste, disrupting online tracking, payments, and internal systems during the busy holiday period. French authorities and counter-espionage agencies have launched an investigation, treating the incident as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated cyber operations targeting Western infrastructure.

The U.S. is pressing Ukraine to accept a peace plan that would freeze front lines, require territorial and military concessions, and offer limited security guarantees, raising concerns in Kyiv and Europe that the deal favors Russia and shifts long-term risk onto Ukraine. While Washington frames the push as a way to end the war, reduce casualties, and prevent escalation, analysts argue it also reflects U.S. self-interest—cutting costs, managing domestic politics, and freeing r

The IMF has approved about US$206 million in emergency funding for Sri Lanka under the Rapid Financing Instrument to address severe economic pressures caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 600 people and displaced more than 100,000. The Sri Lankan government said the funds will support urgent humanitarian relief, recovery, and reconstruction, while committing to transparency, fiscal discipline, and debt sustainability.

Apple’s upcoming AirTag 2, revealed through iOS 26 code, is expected to feature improved pairing, precise battery reporting, enhanced tracking for moving items, and better performance in crowded areas. The device will likely include a new Ultra Wideband chip but maintain its original design with a replaceable battery. Although labeled as “2025AirTag” internally, its launch is now expected around early 2026, alongside products like a new HomePod mini and a smarter Siri.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the government is strengthening Sri Lanka’s export sector by streamlining trade facilitation, customs procedures, investment approvals, and improving export facilities, while ensuring stability, transparency, and accountability. Speaking at the 27th Presidential Export Awards 2024/25, she highlighted the challenges exporters faced from global disruptions, natural disasters like the Ditwah cyclone, and past policy inconsistencies, and

SBI Ripple Asia has partnered with XRPL-native Doppler Finance to develop yield-bearing products for XRP, expanding its use beyond cross-border payments. The collaboration will focus on compliant yield infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization on the XRP Ledger, with institutional clients as the main target. This move strengthens Ripple’s strategy in Asia and positions XRP as a more productive, investment-ready digital asset.

Sri Lanka’s economy grew 5.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, marking a continued recovery from its recent financial crisis, led mainly by strong industrial expansion. Growth was broad-based, with industry, agriculture, and services all contributing, despite disruptions caused by severe flooding and cyclone damage in late November. Authorities remain cautiously optimistic, supported by an IMF bailout programme and emergency funding, though risks to growth persist i