Rapid population growth and inadequate adherence to scientific and managerial principles in urban planning have intensified numerous challenges, pushing major Iranian cities toward instability. Tehran, as the capital and one of the most urbanized regions in the country, faces significant sustainability threats that require immediate attention. These challenges are not unique to Tehran but represent a broader issue faced by rapidly urbanizing cities worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Addressing such challenges is critical to fostering sustainable development on a global scale. While urban sustainability has been extensively studied, limited research has focused on the indicators of urban instability and their tangible impacts on sustainable urban planning. This study aims to bridge this gap by identifying and analyzing key factors contributing to urban instability across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, with Tehran serving as a representative case. The findings reveal that economic instability is driven by uncertainty in economic policies, fluctuating housing prices, non-standard housing conditions, income disparity, unemployment, and cost of living pressures. Environmental instability is exacerbated by climate change, urban heat islands, floods, transportation mismanagement, energy insecurity, pollution, and insufficient green infrastructure. Social instability arises from limited social interaction, unequal access to services, weak community participation, social harms, and diminished urban safety and welfare. By framing these local challenges within a global context, the study underscores the interconnectedness of these dimensions and highlights the necessity for integrated, evidence-based approaches that combine local insights with global best practices. The findings aim to contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development by offering actionable insights and strategies that can be adapted and implemented in other rapidly urbanizing cities. This research serves as a guide for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders worldwide, emphasizing the importance of holistic and resilient urban strategies to address the multifaceted challenges of sustainability and instability.

Fintech as a three-dimensional phenomenon reflects the rapidly changing technological, financial and business environment. The bibliometric analysis of scientific articles allowed us to identify the main themes and create a map of the field of fintech influences. Systematization of scientific articles revealed the influence of economic development and socio-demographic inequality on fintech development. Government regulatory policies can accelerate the digitisation of financial services and financial inclusion and help the fintech sector face geopolitical challenges. Fintech’s impact was divided into three areas: financial stability and sustainable development, the business ecosystem and human behaviour. The research we summarised allowed us to identify the mechanisms through which fintech influences various fields. A complex approach to the influence of fintech enables us to understand the phenomenon and make better decisions.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces unique challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into sovereign credit assessments. This research study examines environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors embedded in the lending policies of jurisdictional institutions in MENA. By analyzing existing literature and case studies, we identify key drivers and barriers to ESG integration in sovereign lending. Our findings suggest a growing recognition of sustainability’s importance in financial stability and credit, driven by global climate guarantees and local socio-economic development. However, challenges such as data availability, regulatory frameworks, and market acceptance persist. This paper provides an overview of current practices, highlights best practices, and offers recommendations to enhance ESG integration in sovereign debt reviews in the MENA region. The study concludes that a robust ESG framework is necessary to accurately reflect the long-term risks and opportunities associated with sovereign debt, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth regionally.

The challenge of rural electrification has become more challenging today than ever before. Grid-connected and off-grid microgrid systems are playing a very important role in this problem. Examining each component’s ideal size, facility system reactions, and other microgrid analyses, this paper proposes the design and implementation of an off-grid hybrid microgrid in Chittagong and Faridpur with various load dispatch strategies. The hybrid microgrids with a load of 23.31 kW and the following five dispatch algorithms have been optimized: (i) load following, (ii) HOMER predictive, (iii) combined dispatch, (iv) generator order, and (v) cycle charging dispatch approach. The proposed microgrids have been optimized to reduce the net present cost, CO₂ emissions, and levelized cost of energy. All five dispatch strategies for the two microgrids have been analyzed in HOMER Pro. Power system reactions and feasibility analyses of microgrids have been performed using ETAP simulation software. For both the considered locations, the results propound that load-following is the outperforming approach, which has the lowest energy cost of $0.1728/kWh, operational cost of $2944.13, present cost of $127,528.10, and CO₂ emission of 2746 kg/year for the Chittagong microgrid and the lowest energy cost of $0.2030/kWh, operating cost of $3530.34, present cost of 149,287.30, and CO₂ emission of 3256 kg/year for the Faridpur microgrid with a steady reaction of the power system.

Pakistan is grappling with significant economic and political challenges stemming from various factors. Positioned at the heart of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan has been presented with a diverse array of opportunities encompassing trade, investment, energy resource development, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the expansion of the Gwadar port, integration of its economy with neighboring nations via various connectivity projects, and the generation of employment prospects. Given the contemporary interdependence of economic performance and political stability, the potential for economic stability and the creation of opportunities through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is seen as crucial. The project helped Pakistan to attract a huge amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), created hundreds of thousands of jobs, significantly improved infrastructure, established nine SEZs, developed Gwadar port, increased its trade volume with China and controlled energy crisis to a significant level. Political development, stability and peace have also been positively influenced by economic development. This study aims to evaluate the impact of CPEC from both economic and political perspectives, especially as it approaches its 10th anniversary, and assess how it has shaped Pakistan’s economic and political landscapes. The forthcoming second phase of CPEC is poised to further bolster Pakistan’s economic growth, fortify industrialization through SEZs, and enhance its international trade. Additionally, the project is set to transform Pakistan into a pivotal regional trade corridor through its advanced connectivity initiatives and the development of the Gwadar port.

The aim of this study is to determine how bank diversification affects bank stability. To this end, it examines data of 136 commercial banks operating in 14 MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries observed from 2005 to 2021, using the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) panel data regression analysis. The selected countries are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. The main results point to the enhancing effect of income diversification on bank stability. Our results underline the “Bright Side” of banking income diversification in the MENA region. However, this stabilizing income diversification effect is not always maintainable. The results also point to a non-linear relationship between interest/non-interest income and financial stability, suggesting that higher diversification reduces risk. We use a dynamic panel threshold model to determine income diversification thresholds that stabilize banks in the MENA region.