Borouge to increase dividend from 2025
The company okayed $650 million final dividend for 2024.
Business
Stocks sink again as Trump holds firm on tariffs
Trading floors across the globe were overcome by waves of further selling after last week's sharp losses, with Trump telling...
Business
Geostrategy
Mediators push for Gaza ceasefire as Israel, Hamas remain stuck on hostage, withdrawal demands
Hamas has consistently demanded negotiations for the second phase, which would include a permanent end to the war, a complete...
- During the first phase of the truce agreement, Hamas released 33 hostages, including 8 deceased, and Israel released 1,800 Palestinians
- Since then, Hamas has consistently demanded negotiations for the second phase, which would include a permanent end to the war
Geostrategy
Trump, Putin to discuss Ukraine ceasefire this week
US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week, officials said on Sunday, as...
- The United States this week proposed a halt in fighting in the war after talks in Saudi Arabia, with Kyiv accepting the proposal
- Putin however has given no clear answer, instead listing a string of conditions and raising "serious questions" over the proposition
Economy
US Fed likely to keep rates steady as uncertainty over Trump’s economic policies looms
Since January, Trump has imposed levies on major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, and on steel and aluminum imports,...
- The Trump administration has also embarked on unprecedented cost-cutting efforts that target staff and spending, while the president has promised tax reductions and deregulation.
- But Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized this month that it is the "net effect" of policy changes that will matter for both the economy and monetary policy.
Business
China’s Baidu releases new, free AI model to compete with DeepSeek
Baidu announced in a WeChat post that its latest X1 reasoning model -- which the company claims performs similarly to...
- Baidu also made the models free to use, more than two weeks ahead of schedule. Previously, users had to pay a monthly subscription to access the company's latest AI models.
- Technology companies in China have been scrambling to release improved AI platforms since start-up DeepSeek shocked its rivals with its open source and highly cost-efficient model
Geostrategy
Putin tells Ukraine troops in Russian region to ‘surrender’, amid efforts for a ceasefire
Russia has mounted a rapid counteroffensive in the western border region of Kursk over the past week, recapturing much of...
- US President Donald Trump urged Putin to spare the lives of the Ukrainian troops as he said his envoy had held "productive" talks with Russia's leader
- Defeat in Kursk would be a major blow to Ukraine's plans to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in peace talks
Economy
Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats
Gold surpassed $3,000 for the first time Friday as US President Donald Trump's trade wars boost the safe-haven asset, while...
- Gold, a safe haven in times of uncertainty, rose as much as $3,004 an ounce before paring back gains later in the day to trade under $3,000
- Trump said he would not row back on the metals duties, nor plans for sweeping tariffs on countries worldwide due to kick on April 2
Geostrategy
Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, remains of 4 others
During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for...
- Israel has said it wants to extend the first phase of the ceasefire but Hamas has insisted on talks for the second phase of the deal which the US, Qatar and Egypt had mediated.
- Israel halted aid flows into Gaza 13 days ago over the truce impasse. At the weekend, it also cut off the electricity supply, which largely halted water desalination in Gaza.
Geostrategy
Iran says response to Trump’s letter under ‘assessment’
Iran will conduct a "thorough assessment" before responding to US President Donald Trump's letter urging nuclear talks and warning of...
- The letter - which Trump said was addressed to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - was delivered to Tehran by the UAE
- It was not immediately clear if Khamenei, who has the final say in matters of state, had personally received the letter
Geostrategy
Egypt, Jordan, Hamas, PLO hail Trump remarks on not ‘expelling’ Palestinians from Gaza
It was not immediately clear whether Trump's comments signalled further backtracking from his widely criticised proposal to take over the...
- Arab states have already offered a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority
- Arab foreign ministers met in Qatar on Wednesday with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss reconstruction for Gaza
Geostrategy
Arab ministers, US envoy discuss Gaza reconstruction amid ongoing ceasefire talks in Qatar
The plan by Muslim-majority nations has been rejected by both Israel and its key ally the United States, but has...
- The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted a plan put forward by the Arab League at an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia
- The Egyptian-spearheaded plan emerged as a proposal to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority
Borouge to increase dividend from 2025
The company okayed $650 million final dividend for 2024.
Business
Company News
Ford’s US Q1 auto sales dip
Business
Latest News
Israel says expanding Gaza offensive to seize ‘large areas’
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would bolster its military presence in the Palestinian territory to "destroy and clear the...
Geostrategy
Tesla Q1 sales sink 13 percent
The dip occurred amid lower production during factory upgrades.
Business
US senator smashes record with 25-hour anti-Trump speech
Washington, United States - A Democratic US lawmaker shattered a record for the longest speech in Senate history Tuesday, staying...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Turkish opposition calls for boycott over jailed students
The leader of Turkey's main opposition party has called for a boycott on Wednesday to protest the detention of students...
- 301 students have been arrested for taking part in the protests against the detention on March 19 of Imamoglu, Erdogan's greatest political rival
- Imamoglu's arrest on corruption charges, which he denies, have set off a wave of popular protests unseen in Turkey for more than a decade
Geostrategy
Trump’s sweeping tariffs spark fears of trade war, recession, and global economic instability
The threat of a trade war has caused increasing political ructions, with Canada's looming general election on April 28 set...
- Trump has promised to be "very kind" when he unveils the so-called reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, but uncertainty reigned over which countries would be targeted and by how much
- His plan has prompted vows of retaliation from major economies including the European Union on Canada and fears that it could unleash a recession at home and abroad
Business
Ford’s US Q1 auto sales dip
But its Q1 figures exceed a forecast by Edmunds
- The automaker reported a 1.3 percent dip in sales in the world's biggest economy, to 501,291 vehicles, compared with the same period in 2024.
- This was mainly due to the discontinuation of certain vehicle models and rental fleet sales timing, the company said.