India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded its highest-ever monthly transaction value of Rs 29.88 lakh crore and 23.66 billion transactions in July, demonstrating sustained growth. The platform, now operational in 10 countries, is strengthening India's digital payments ecosystem and global fintech standing.
Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at 74. Known as the Father Emir, he ruled from 1995-2013, overseeing significant economic, social, and cultural reforms, transforming Qatar into a major LNG exporter and boosting its global profile.
China's HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile system has been sold to Azerbaijan, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, while Serbia operates the FK-3, an HQ-22 variant, marking a rare European presence of Chinese defence technology.
The EU is enacting major reforms to bolster its economy and global influence by expanding banks, tech, and defense sectors. Aiming to avoid becoming a second-tier economy, leaders seek greater integration and investment to compete with the US and China.
Dreame, a Chinese consumer-tech company founded in 2017, has emerged as a potential breakthrough for Chinese premium hardware brands. After developing a motor spinning at 100,000 RPM (previously only achieved by Dyson), Dreame's robot vacuums have sold 11 million units globally, leading market share in 30 countries with over 40% share in 18 markets including Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Denmark. The company has expanded beyond Amazon dependency, opening its first U.S. store in October 2024 and now operates over 6,500 retail locations globally, with offline sales exceeding 20% of North American revenue by Q4 2025.
Si tout le monde vivait comme les Français, la Terre aurait épuisé pour cette année ses capacités «renouvelables» à partir de ce 24 avril, estime le Global Footprint Network.
