Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
Economy
Tariff war: Xi says China must ‘overcome’ AI chip challenges
Beijing, China - President Xi Jinping said China must "overcome" the challenges of developing core AI technologies including high-end chips,...
Economy
Analysis
The future is already here
Humanity is on a tech-fueled trajectory. Data and informed predictions are inspiring, showing how AI is reshaping economies, smart cities...
- The global travel and tourism industry is projected to contribute over $15 trillion annually to the world economy by 2030.
- By 2035, 60% of the city traffic and emissions can be reduced thanks to shared autonomous electric vehicles.
Business
China, Canada retaliate to Trump tariff war as markets fall
Washington, United States -- Mounting trade wars between the United States and its largest economic partners deepened Tuesday as huge...
- Trump had announced -- and then paused -- blanket 25 percent tariffs on imports from major trading partners Canada and Mexico in February.
- The duties will hit over $918 billion in US imports from both countries, and are set to hamper supply chains for key sectors like automobiles and construction materials.
Economy
China says will fight to ‘bitter end’ if US pushes trade war
Pressure from Trump could motivate Beijing to strengthen the kinds of support for the economy seen last year -- interest...
- China is grappling with a prolonged property sector crisis and high youth unemployment
- China plans to deal with an increasingly unpredictable United States, its largest trading partner
Geostrategy
Future of Humanity – TRENDS’ yearly Special Issue now online
Dubai, UAE -- TRENDS’ yearly Special Issue is out. This year’s edition, titled Future of Humanity, explores key global shifts...
- The edition delves into transformative themes such as GCC’s leadership in urbanization, smart cities, and logistics, as well as the role of AI in reshaping healthcare and finance.
- It also highlights cultural diplomacy, the evolving digital economy, and the power of travel in shaping the human experience.
Science
Microsoft retires Skype, the online voice and video call pioneer
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Friday announced it was retiring Skype, the online voice and video call pioneer...
- Skype was founded in 2003 by Scandinavians Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis in Estonia, revolutionizing internet communication by offering free voice calls
- Over the years, and as internet speeds improved, Skype evolved to include video calls, instant messaging, file sharing and group communication features
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate 2 percent in Jan, rental prices main driver
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate in Jan 2025 reached 2 percent compared to January 2024, the...
- According to GASTAT, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate is considered the lowest among the G20 countries.
- CPI measures the prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services consisting of 490 items.
Business
Stocks mostly rise, oil falls as Trump fans Ukraine peace hopes
London, United Kingdom -- Major stock markets mostly rallied and oil prices retreated Thursday on hopes for an end to the...
- London was a rare faller owing to sharp losses to share prices of big companies, including Unilever, Barclays and British American Tobacco.
- With Russia being a major producer of oil, crude futures fell heavily on easing supply concerns, while the dollar lost some of its safe-haven support.
Asian stocks rise as Powell rate warning taken in stride
Equities rose in Asia on Wednesday as traders took in their stride a warning from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell...
- New York Fed chief John Williams said the economy and consumer spending remained strong
- Wall Street ended Tuesday positively, despite tech stocks dragging the Nasdaq into the red
Economy
IMF projects 3.3% global growth for 2025, MENA to rebound to 3.6%
Dubai, UAE -- The International Monterey Fund (IMF) has projected global growth to remain at 3.3 percent this year and...
- IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that growth in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to rebound to about 3.6 percent in 2025.
- She warned that global public debt is projected to hit 100 percent of global GDP by 2030.
Asian markets advance after Wall St gains, US Postal Service U-turn
Asian markets rose Thursday, tracking gains on Wall Street and following the US Postal Service's U-turn on a ban on...
- Investors remained on edge about the economic outlook, pushing Gold prices above US$2,882
- Disappointing earnings from Google-parent Alphabet weighed on the tech sector
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
European Union and UAE agree to launch trade deal negotiations
Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "and I just decided to launch negotiations on an EU-UAE free trade agreement,"...
Geostrategy
Iraq signs deal with US firm to produce 24,000 MW of electricity
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw "the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding as part of a strategic cooperation framework...
Economy
World Bank approves $1.1 bn in financing for Jordan
The World Bank announced Tuesday it will provide Jordan with $1.1 billion in new financing to support economic reforms and...
Economy
Most Read
Economy
China vows ‘fight to the end’ as Trump warns 50% more tariffs
China vowed on Tuesday to "fight to the end" against fresh tariffs of 50 percent threatened by US President Donald...
- Trump upended the world economy last week with sweeping tariffs that have raised the spectre of an international recession
- Beijing, Washington's major economic rival, responded by announcing its own 34 percent duties on US goods to come into effect on Thursday
Economy
Trump’s tariffs shake up MENA economies, hitting allies, adversaries, oil trade and emerging industries: Report
Trump's sweeping tariffs are reshaping trade dynamics across MENA, impacting oil-exporting Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, according...
- Gulf oil producers face indirect hits as tariff fears lower global oil demand and prices
- Small businesses across MENA confront rising costs, disrupted supply chains, and uncertainty
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...
- Wall Street was wracked by volatile trading, bouncing into positive territory on hopes of a 90-day pause in tariffs, only to sink lower when those were dashed by the White House.
- Trillions of dollars have been wiped off combined stock market valuations in recent sessions. Bitcoin tumbled, while the dollar rebounded after sharp losses last week.