WTO hikes 2025 trade growth outlook but tariffs to bite in 2026
The WTO raised its forecast for trade volume growth in 2025 to 2.4 percent -- up from 0.9 percent in...
Economy
Indirect talks on ending Gaza war begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt media
Behind closed doors and under tight security, negotiators will speak through mediators shuttling back and forth, only weeks after Israel...
Geostrategy
Hamas delegation to discuss Egypt’s Gaza ceasefire plan
Sources close to Hamas say Cairo's three-stage plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages held by Hamas...
- The ceasefire plan was put last week to officials of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also battling IDF in the territory, when the chiefs of both movements visited Cairo
- Diaa Rashwan, who heads Egypt's State Information Services, confirmed that Cairo had put forward "a framework intended to bring together the views of all parties concerned
NYC protesters for Gaza ceasefire hold mock funeral
Holding banners demanding an immediate ceasefire, the activists gathered in Manhattan's Bryant Park while some briefly stood in the middle...
- The mock funeral procession headed to New York's iconic Times Square where the protest continued with giant electronic advertisements as a backdrop
- Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry
US warship shoots down drone, missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis
Houthis have repeatedly targeted vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane with strikes they say are in support of...
- USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis," US Central Command said in a statement
- US Treasury sanctioned chief of Currency Exchangers Association in Sanaa, along with three exchanges in Yemen and Turkey for "facilitating the flow of Iranian funds to Houthis
Business
Huawei says expects higher revenue
The company is leading equipment manufacturer for 5G.
- Sanctions since 2019 have cut the firm off from access to US-made components and technologies, forcing it to diversify its growth sources
- In 2023, the group expected revenues of more than 700 billion yuan ($99.2 billion), Hu said - an increase of nearly nine percent from last year
Business
Xiaomi launches first electric car
The car manufactured by Xiaomi likely to enter market by 2025.
- Xiaomi boss Lei Jun took to the stage in Beijing Thursday to unveil the SU7, a sedan that is scheduled to enter the market in 2025
- Xiaomi announced in 2021 to enter the highly competitive sector of electric vehicles manufacturing
Geostrategy
United Nations urges Israel to stop ‘unlawful’ killings in West Bank
A report released Thursday demanded an immediate end to the use of military weapons and means during law enforcement operations,...
- The UN body said it had verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians from October 7 to December 27 in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem
- Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man during an overnight raid on Ramallah and raided money exchange shops in the area.
Geostrategy
India says Qatar reduced death sentence of 8 navy personnel
Indian media have reported that the eight Indian nationals -- among them former high-ranking and decorated officers, including captains who...
- The eight men were employees of Al Dahra, a Gulf-based company that offers "complete support solutions" to the aerospace, security and defense sectors
- The Hindu newspaper reported the men were spying for a "third country", while the Times of India has said that "various reports claimed they were accused of spying for Israel"
Geostrategy
India targets leading journalists with Pegasus spyware: Amnesty
"Our latest findings show that increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs,...
- Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan and Anand Mangnale had been targeted with the Pegasus spyware
- India's government did not immediately respond, but it denied similar accusations in 2021 that it used Pegasus spyware
Geostrategy
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez supports Iraq’s sovereignty, stability
"My country, always at the request of the Iraqi authorities, will support the unity, sovereignty and stability of Iraq," said...
- "My country, always at the request of the Iraqi authorities, will support the unity, sovereignty and stability of Iraq," said Sanchez in Baghdad
- Sanchez, who was accompanied to Baghdad by a delegation of business leaders, said he is dedicated to the development of trade between Spain and Iraq
Geostrategy
Israel bombs Gaza as UN warns civilians face ‘grave peril’
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the health ministry in Gaza, reported more than 200 deaths "including entire families" over the past...
- More than 80 percents of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been driven from their homes, the UN says, and many now live in cramped shelters or makeshift tents in the far south.
- UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril" facing Gaza's people.
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
WTO hikes 2025 trade growth outlook but tariffs to bite in 2026
The WTO raised its forecast for trade volume growth in 2025 to 2.4 percent -- up from 0.9 percent in...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Trump warns of decision time as Iran prepares nuclear counter-proposal
In a key sticking point, Iran has insisted on the right to enrich uranium at low levels for civilian use...
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grows by 3.4 percent in Q1 mainly on non-oil activities
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s first quarter real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.4 percent year-on-year, according to...
Economy
Qualcomm to Alphawave for $2.4 bn
The deal makes Alphawave the latest tech company to depart London.
Business
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Business
MENA Mergers & Acquisitions deal value up 66% in Q1, hits $46 Billion
Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a record-breaking first quarter...
- According to Saudi M&A Consulting, this robust growth reflects rising investor confidence, favorable regulatory reforms, and strong macroeconomic fundamentals across the region.
- Cross-border M&A accounted for 81 percent of total deal value and 52 percent of the total number of transactions, with 117 deals executed, the highest in the last five years.
Economy
US, China seek to extend trade truce with London talks
After a round of talks in Geneva last month, the United States and China will sit down at the negotiating...
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will lead the US delegation
- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng - who led Beijing's negotiating team in Geneva - will also lead the team in London, the foreign ministry announced at the weekend
Geostrategy
NATO learns as Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s web changes battlefield: NATO Commander
Brussels, Belgium - Ukraine's "creativity", including its massive "Spider's web" drone attack deep inside Russia, holds profound lessons for Western...
- Vandier said the operation showed how crucial innovation and adaptation were for victory, as modern warfare changes at lightning speed
- "We are entering a dynamic era where armies must rely on both major planning but also adaptive planning," the navy commander said