Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ —The term petrodollar refers to the global system where crude oil is priced and traded exclusively in U.S. dollars. This system has been a cornerstone of American economic and geopolitical power for over 50 years. As of early 2026, the petrodollar system is facing its most significant challenges since its inception, with major shifts in Venezuela and the Middle East reshaping the global energy landscape. Continue reading
Dec. 25, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Google is introducing new search features and global partnerships to better connect users with digital content in the artificial intelligence era. A primary update is the global rollout of Preferred Sources, which allows individuals to prioritise their favourite news outlets and websites within their search results. The company is also enhancing its AI interfaces by adding more direct links and descriptive context to help people explore the web more effectively. Additionally, Google is launching collaborative pilot programs with major international publishers to test AI-powered summaries and real-time data integration. These initiatives aim to foster deeper engagement between readers and creators while providing more personalised browsing experiences. Together, these advancements represent a significant shift in how information is discovered and consumed across the broader ecosystem. Continue reading
Dec. 25, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Citiesabc Impakt is a sophisticated Agriculture-as-a-Service platform developed by Dinis Guarda and the Ztudium Group. The initiative establishes a digital infrastructure designed to support farmers and agribusinesses through artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT sensors. By providing a verified digital identity and financial tools, the platform seeks to improve market access and sustainability in regions such as India, Indonesia, and Africa. The system addresses critical issues like climate volatility and financial exclusion by offering crop monitoring, price forecasting, and secure data ownership. Ultimately, the project aims to foster global food security and economic resilience through high-tech, human-centric solutions. Continue reading
Dec. 22, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The report, titled “The Diversity Deficit,” is a policy report from the Startup Coalition that investigates the systemic funding disparities facing ethnically diverse founders in the UK tech sector. Despite these entrepreneurs being more likely to start businesses than their white peers, data reveals they receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital, with Black female founders experiencing the most acute exclusion. The authors identify structural barriers such as a lack of access to informal “warm” networks, investor bias in pattern-matching, and significant information gaps regarding fundraising mechanics. To resolve this economic growth deficit, the report suggests standardising diversity reporting for large funds and strategically supporting diaspora-led investment networks. Furthermore, it advocates for the distribution of micro-grants through established community partners to bridge the gap between initial ideas and investable startups. Ultimately, the source argues that addressing these inequities is a strategic necessity for boosting British innovation and productivity. Continue reading
Global greenhouse gas emissions data for July 2025 report shows that total global emissions reached 5.21 billion tonnes CO₂e, marking a slight increase of 0.43% compared to July 2024. The release provides a comprehensive breakdown of these emissions by major countries (with China, the US, and India showing increases), sectors (with fossil fuel operations seeing the largest increase), and the top emitting urban areas. Continue reading
This report presents an analysis of the **AI APIs Market**, forecasting significant growth, driven by a **21.7% Compound Annual Growth Rate** between 2024 and 2030, leading to a **USD 13910 Million valuation** by 2030 from USD 3365 Million in 2023. Continue reading
Tom Felle, University of Galway
Media freedom has long been essential to healthy democracy. It is the oxygen that fuels informed debate, exposes corruption and holds power to account. But around the world, that freedom is under sustained attack.
April 14, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Equifax’s 2024 Global Consumer Credit Trends Report offers a broad analysis of consumer credit conditions across ten countries, leveraging the Equifax Cloud™ for enhanced data insights. The report highlights trends in consumer credit demand, debt, delinquencies, and credit card usage, alongside inflation trends. Continue reading
India is set to surpass the impressive mark of US$ 5.4 trillion in consumer spending by 2034, up from the current US$ 1.8 trillion, according to data from the World Data Lab analyzed by EBANX, a global technology company specializing in payment services for emerging markets. It represents a growth of 12% per year, three times higher than the projection for the United States, at 4%, and more than two times higher than the global average of 5%. This boost will place India as the third-largest market in the world in consumer spending, behind only the United States and China. Continue reading
The European Union (EU), in collaboration with organising partner Global Counter-Terrorism Council (GCTC) and with India’s Ministry of External Affairs as a strategic partner, will be hosting a crucial regional conference on August 21-22, to discuss the current and emerging threats in online radicalisation and find ways to jointly counter the exploitation of online spaces by extremist and terrorist actors. Continue reading