Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, spanning from the eastern Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean. The continent comprises 48 countries and is home to more than 4.7-billion people, representing about 60% of the global population. Asia's economy is characterised by extraordinary diversity, ranging from highly developed industrial nations such as Japan and South Korea to rapidly growing emerging markets including China and India, as well as developing economies across South-East Asia and Central Asia. Key economic sectors include manufacturing, electronics, automotive production, textiles, agriculture, technology and financial services. The continent is the world's largest producer and exporter of manufactured goods, with China serving as the global manufacturing hub and countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India playing significant roles in automotive, electronics and technology production. Asia is rich in natural resources, including oil and gas in the Middle East and Central Asia, rare earths and minerals across various regions, and extensive agricultural output from rice paddies to palm oil plantations. Major regional economic blocs and institutions include the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum and the Asian Development Bank. Prevailing development themes include rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, the rise of the middle class, digital transformation and the transition towards cleaner energy, alongside challenges such as income inequality and environmental pressures. Asia's economic growth has been a defining feature of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, with the continent increasingly driving global trade, investment and innovation.
Asia Updates
AfDB expects Africa's economic growth to slow to 4.2% due to the Middle East crisis
By: Reuters 26th May 2026 Africa's economic growth is expected to slow slightly to 4.2% this year from 4.4% last year, the African Development Bank said, as Middle East... →
Agriculture in Africa: science and research can’t make an impact without investment and good policies
14th May 2026 Agriculture is the lifeblood of Africa. More than 60% of African households depend directly or indirectly on the land for their livelihoods. And... →
Kenya private sector activity contracts for second month in a row, survey shows
By: Reuters 6th May 2026 Kenya's private sector activity contracted for the second month in a row in April, although at a slower pace than in March, undermined by higher... →
Ghana seeks majority private investor for new national carrier
By: Reuters 29th April 2026 Ghana said late Tuesday it was working to identify an investor for a new national airline, inviting "potential strategic partners" to engage with... →
South Africa ramps up fuel imports from US as war jolts trade
By: Reuters 23rd April 2026 South Africa is boosting oil-product imports from the US to help replace lost supplies from the Middle East, in another example of how the conflict... →
Hydrogen enables energy storage way beyond batteries, Nel emphasises 
By: Martin Creamer 22nd April 2026 Electrolytic hydrogen enables long-term energy storage way beyond what batteries can provide, which is exemplified by a 200 MW hydrogen plant in... →
SA: Cyril Ramaphosa: Address by South Africa President, to the Global Progressive Mobilisation Plenary during working visit to Spain (18/04/2026)
20th April 2026 The resurgence in unlawful wars of aggression and genocide in places like Palestine are linked to ideologies of superiority that continue to treat... →
IMF, World Bank, IEA urge countries to stop hoarding energy supplies, imposing export controls
By: Reuters 14th April 2026 The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency on Monday urged countries to avoid hoarding energy supplies and... →
Oil plunges after Trump postpones strikes on Iranian power plants
By: Reuters 23rd March 2026 Oil prices fell by 7% on Monday after US President Donald Trump said he would postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five... →
Energy price volatility may push commodity prices higher, manganese producer warns
By: Martin Creamer 20th March 2026 Volatility in global oil markets could have far-reaching consequences for South Africa’s mineral export sector and push up commodity prices.... →
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