The United States remains the world's largest contributor to global financial secrecy, according to the Financial Secrecy Index 2025 published by the Tax Justice Network, highlighting ongoing concerns about hidden wealth, offshore finance, and transparency in the international financial system.

The index ranks jurisdictions based on their contribution to global financial secrecy, combining secrecy levels with the scale of financial services provided to non-residents. The latest report places the United States at the top with a Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) value of 2,018, well ahead of Switzerland and Singapore.

The Tax Justice Network found that the United States accounts for 25.54% of the global market for offshore financial services , giving it the largest influence on worldwide financial secrecy.

Analysts say the country's vast financial sector, combined with varying transparency requirements across states, continues to attract international wealth and corporate structures.

Switzerland, long associated with private banking secrecy, ranked second with an FSI value of 1,398, followed by Singapore (1,228) and Hong Kong (1,111).

Several of the world's biggest financial hubs featured prominently in the top 10, including Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan .

According to the Tax Justice Network, the rankings do not necessarily indicate illegal activity. Instead, they measure how laws, regulations and financial practices can enable assets and ownership structures to remain hidden from foreign authorities.

The organisation argues that greater transparency is essential for combating tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows.

Financial secrecy has become an increasingly important issue for governments seeking to recover lost tax revenues and strengthen oversight of cross-border financial transactions.

International bodies such as the OECD, the International Monetary Fund, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have pushed for greater information sharing and beneficial ownership disclosure in recent years.

Despite those efforts, the Tax Justice Network says major economies and financial centres still play a significant role in facilitating opaque financial arrangements.

India has overtaken China to become the world's most populous nation, marking a historic demographic shift that is already reshaping global economic growth, labour markets and geopolitical influence.

According to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 , India's population is projected to continue growing for several decades, while China's is expected to decline steadily as the effects of low birth rates and population ageing intensify.

The latest UN projections highlight a dramatic reversal in demographic fortunes between the two Asian giants, which together account for more than one-third of humanity.

UN estimates indicate that India's population has risen from approximately 201 million in 1800 to around 1.46 billion today , making it the world's largest country by population .

Under the UN's medium-fertility scenario, India's population is projected to reach roughly 1.68 billion by 2050, before gradually declining to around 1.51 billion by the end of the century.

The growth has been driven by improvements in healthcare, declining mortality rates and a relatively young population. India currently has one of the world's largest working-age populations, a demographic advantage economists often refer to as a "demographic dividend."

However, experts note that turning population growth into economic prosperity will depend on creating sufficient jobs, expanding education and improving infrastructure.

China's demographic story is moving in the opposite direction.

The UN estimates China's population grew from around 330 million in 1800 to a peak of more than 1.4 billion in recent decades. Yet falling fertility rates, rising living costs and longer life expectancy have contributed to a sustained population decline.

Under current projections, China's population is expected to fall from about 1.41 billion today to 1.26 billion by 2050, before shrinking further to approximately 633 million by 2100.

The decline reflects one of the most significant demographic transitions in modern history. China's fertility rate remains well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman despite policy efforts aimed at encouraging larger families.

Spain's iconic Sagrada Família is the world's tallest church, surpassing centuries-old European landmarks and reshaping the global ranking of religious architecture.

According to data compiled from Britannica , the basilica's planned central tower will reach 172.5 metres, placing it ahead of Germany's Ulm Minster (161.5m) and Côte d'Ivoire's Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (158m).

The milestone marks the latest chapter in a project that has been under construction for more than 140 years and remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Barcelona and modern religious architecture.

Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882. The basilica's central tower, dedicated to Jesus Christ, is expected to elevate the structure to 172.5 metres, making it the tallest church building ever constructed.

The Sagrada Família Foundation has stated that the final height was intentionally designed to remain slightly lower than Barcelona's Montjuïc hill, reflecting Gaudí's belief that human creations should not surpass God's natural work.

The project received a major boost following the completion of the Tower of the Virgin Mary in 2021 and continues toward its final stages, despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Europe dominates the rankings

Europe remains home to most of the world's tallest churches, highlighting the continent's centuries-long influence on Christian architecture.

The current top ten includes:

Germany alone accounts for three of the ten tallest churches on the list.

Although surpassed in height by several structures, St. Peter's Basilica remains one of Christianity's most important sites.

Located in Vatican City, the Renaissance masterpiece was designed by architects including Michelangelo and serves as the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church. Vatican News describes it as one of the most visited religious sites in the world, attracting millions of pilgrims annually.

After a decade dominated by legends such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, the French Open Roland-Garros is increasingly being shaped by a younger generation eager to leave its mark on the Paris clay.

The latest chapter came in 2026 when Germany's Alexander Zverev captured his maiden Roland-Garros title, while Russia's Mirra Andreeva, aged just 19, claimed her first Grand Slam crown. Their victories extended a period of transition that has transformed one of tennis' most prestigious tournaments.

Few players have dominated a Grand Slam like Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros.

Between 2017 and 2022, Nadal won five French Open titles, adding to the legacy that earned him a record 14 crowns in Paris. His reign established Roland-Garros as one of the most remarkable success stories in sporting history .

The torch has since passed to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. His 2025 triumph was particularly memorable, as he rallied from two sets down and saved three championship points to defeat Italy's Jannik Sinner in the longest French Open final on record.

Alcaraz's success has positioned him as the leading figure of the sport's next generation, drawing inevitable comparisons with Nadal while forging a rivalry with Sinner that many believe will define men's tennis for years to come.

While younger stars have emerged, Novak Djokovic remains a significant figure in Roland-Garros history.

The Serbian captured titles in 2016, 2021 and 2023, becoming one of the few players capable of interrupting Nadal's dominance on clay. His 2023 victory also helped cement his record-breaking Grand Slam legacy.

Together, Nadal, Djokovic and now Alcaraz have defined the men's competition over the past decade.

The women's draw has been shaped largely by Iga Świątek, whose dominance on clay has echoed Nadal's success.

The Polish star won Roland-Garros titles in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, establishing herself as the leading force on the surface and one of the sport's most consistent performers. Her aggressive baseline game and movement have made her the player to beat in Paris for much of the decade.

Before Świątek's rise, champions included Garbiñe Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty, each contributing to a highly competitive era in women's tennis.

The last two editions have produced first-time champions.

In 2025, American star Coco Gauff defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Roland-Garros title and become the first American woman to lift the trophy since Serena Williams in 2015.

A year later, Mirra Andreeva went one step further by becoming the youngest French Open women's champion in more than three decades. Her victory highlighted the arrival of another major talent capable of challenging for Grand Slam titles across all surfaces.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited a temporary camp in Pulka on Monday, where many of the freed captives are receiving assistance following their rescue.

The operation, carried out by troops from Operation HADIN KAI and Special Forces, led to the recovery of 360 people from a fortified Boko Haram hideout in the Mandara Mountains on Saturday.

The victims had been abducted during an attack on Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area in early March, when insurgents targeted a military position, burned homes and fled into the mountains with civilians.

One survivor described the harsh conditions they endured while being held captive.

"The night they took us, we were beaten. They looted a lot of things. They moved us to a mountain. We slept outside on the ground. Some days, we were starved," one survivor said. "I lost three of my children and husband."

According to the military, the rescue operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and covert reconnaissance. Troops reportedly advanced under the cover of darkness, sealed escape routes and overpowered fighters guarding the enclave.

During his visit, Governor Zulum praised security agencies involved in the operation and pledged support for the rescued civilians.

"I also want to use this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Nigeria Armed Forces, the efforts of the office of the National Security Adviser, commend the office of the Department of Security Services and all other security agencies, including our gallant civilian joint taskforce," Zulum said.

"We're here to support them with relief materials, food and non-food items. Each and every one will receive food and non-food items. More importantly, we're also interfacing with their communities about their return. Those who are willing to return to their community," he added.

Medical teams are currently assessing the former captives for malnutrition, illness and psychological trauma as authorities work on plans for their return to their communities.

Security forces said operations against insurgent positions in the Mandara Mountains and nearby border communities will continue.