Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
Arts & Culture
Trump expands Apple tariff threat to all smartphones
Washington, United States -- US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple and other smartphone manufacturers with a 25 percent...
Business
Economy
US Fed expected to pause cuts again and wait for clarity on tariffs
Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to extend a recent pause in rate cuts this...
- Most economists expect the tariffs introduced since January to push up prices and cool economic growth, at least in the short run.
- Financial markets overwhelmingly expect the Fed to announce another rate cut pause on Wednesday, according to data from CME Group.
Business
Trump’s solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
Bangkok, Thailand -- Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in Southeast Asia could be a chance for the...
- Earlier this month, Washington announced plans for hefty duties on solar panels made in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
- Southeast Asia accounted for nearly 80 percent of US solar panel imports in 2024.
Geostrategy
UAE says citizens can again travel to Lebanon
The announcement comes after Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on...
- UAE imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen.
- Lebanese citizens were not banned from travelling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas.
Business
Luberef net profit falls 7% in Q1
A fall in by-products sales leads to profit dip.
- This is in addition to a decrease in by-products crack margins, despite an increase in base oil crack margins.
- Total shareholders’ equity, no minority interest, stood at SAR 4.07 billion as of March 31, 2025.
Geostrategy
Global rice output in 2024/25 likely to expand by 1.5%: FAO
Rome, Italy -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a new Cereal Supply and Demand...
- FAO’s latest forecast for 2025 wheat production is pegged at 795 million tons, on par with the previous year.
- FAO’s new forecast for world cereal utilization in 2024/25 stands at 2 870 million tons, a 1.0 percent increase over the 2023/24 level.
Business
SABIC net loss $322 million
The company's net profit was $66m in Q1 2024
- Losses were driven by a SAR 1.05 billion drop in gross profit on higher feedstock prices.
- On a sequential basis, net loss shrank from SAR 1.89 billion in Q4 2024.
Business
Loyalty Lost: How brands need to adapt to the modern traveler
Dubai, UAE: As 2025 unfolds, travel brands are facing a significant challenge: customer loyalty. Traditional rewards programmes, often based on points systems,...
- To stay competitive, brands must move away from price-based rewards like discounts, which can boost short-term sales but impact profitability
- Instead, focusing on personalised offers, exclusive experiences, and tiered memberships is key to fostering long-term customer loyalty
Gen Z travellers in UAE seek purposeful, tech-enabled journeys: Wyndham study
Dubai, UAE - Gen Z travellers in the UAE are reshaping the future of tourism, prioritizing cultural immersion, sustainability, and...
- The study, conducted by YouGov, found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Gen Z respondents prefer accommodations that reflect local culture
- Meanwhile, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are driving travel choices for 26% of them, with 79% already using or eager to use AI tools to plan their trips
Economy
The game of ‘chicken’ being played with the world economy can be brought to a cooperative end
A meaningful “G3” accord between the US, Europe, and China must include coordinated fiscal, monetary, development, and trade policies. From...
- The hardline positions of the US and China on trade and tariffs are putting the world economy at risk, writes Richard Samans
- Yet, Europe could broker a 'positive off-ramp' that fires on all of the cylinders of international cooperation
Economy
Morocco volunteers on Sahara clean-up mission as part Nomads Festival
M'HAMID EL GHIZLANE, Morocco - It may be the gateway to the vast Sahara desert, but that does not mean...
- Bottles, plastic bags -- "there are all kinds", noted one helper who has joined the initiative cleaning up the edge of a village bordering the Sahara
- The rubbish is "mainly linked to the massive production of plastic products, low recycling rates and atmospheric pollutants carried by the wind."
Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
Arts & Culture
Company News
Latest News
Etihad Q1 profit $187 million
Business
Israeli ‘warning’ fire at diplomats sparks outcry amid Gaza pressure
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin, a...
Geostrategy
Cyberattack to cost UK retailer Marks & Spencer $404 million
London, United Kingdom -- British clothes-to-food retailer Marks and Spencer on Wednesday said a cyberattack affecting its online service is...
Business
Oil prices jump on report of Israel prepping Iran strike
Both main crude contracts jumped around one percent after CNN reported multiple US officials as saying the government had received...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
US asking countries for ‘voluntary’ Palestinian relocation: Rubio
Israel has again warned the population of Gaza -- nearly entirely displaced since the war broke out over the October...
- President Donald Trump has repeatedly mused about displacing Gaza's two million people to make way for reconstruction.
- Responding to a question in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said: "There's no deportation."
Interview
The New Travel Mindset: Local Living and Smarter Tech
From immersive local experiences to AI-powered personalization, Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, shares key trends shaping the future of travel.
- Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are growing heavily from this region as connectivity improves.
- Europe remains strong, but even in Europe, they're exploring more. Before, it was much more London only.