Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.

Washington, United States - The International Monetary Fund has approved an additional $1.3 billion assistance program for Egypt under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) meant to mitigate the impact of climate change, the organization said Tuesday. The Fund's Executive Board also completed the fourth review of an ongoing aid...

The initial phase of the truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States began on January 19, and helped reduce hostilities after more than 15 months of relentless fighting that displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.4 million residents.

It has been awarded for construction of Design Quarter at d3

IoT applications are transforming critical sectors such as transportation, where connected vehicles improve traffic management, utilities where smart grids enhance energy efficiency, and healthcare, where remote monitoring optimizes patient care.

Anticipatory governance is crucial in navigating today’s risks. While AI tools enhance forecasting, early warning does not always lead to early action. Bureaucratic inertia and political hesitation often delay responses. Governments, businesses, and NGOs must integrate risk intelligence into decision-making, ensuring proactive measures and resilience-building to prevent crises from escalating...

Successful smart cities address real challenges, like Mexico City’s digitalization of government services.

The Syrian presidency announced on Monday an agreement with the head of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the institutions of the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast into the national government.

The positive response from Ukraine prompted President Donald Trump's administration to lift a freeze on military aid and to predict the beginning to an end to three years of war.

The talks on Tuesday will be the first Ukraine-US meeting since a White House blow-up between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump that led to Washington halting military aid to Kyiv. "We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea," the official told AFP.

To realize its vision for “smart tourism”, Singapore Tourism Board is leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and augmented reality to enhance visitor experiences.

The framework for future-proofing tourism revolves around three core pillars: People, Planet, and Purpose. This vision is particularly evident in the GCC, where a people-first transformation is taking place.

AI won't replace jobs, but reskilling will unlock its true potential—lifelong learning is the key, Jayney Howson, SVP of Learning and Development at ServiceNow tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

In a statement, Netanyahu's office said that Israel had accepted an invitation from US-backed mediators and would "send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations".

By 2030, every dollar spent on AI-powered solutions is expected to generate US$4.60 in economic value, according to global analyst firm IDC. Its success depends on responsible implementation, says Robert Coyne, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Tealium.

Hamas said its representatives met with mediators in Cairo at the weekend, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid to re-enter the besieged territory "without restrictions or conditions",

The region leverages a strategic major hub, advanced infrastructure, and economic diversification to fuel logistics demand, says Janardan Dalmia, Founder and CEO at Trukkin, a leading UAE-based logistics firm.

Trump's plan has already united Arab countries in opposition, with Saudi Arabia also hosting Arab leaders two weeks ago to discuss alternatives.

Like the Internet revolution before it, AI and the new digital economy are overwhelmingly positive forces for change, Laurent Ross tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed a meeting between the United States and Ukraine due next week in Jeddah, describing it as part of the kingdom's efforts "to end the Ukrainian crisis". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had announced he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to...

The global logistics market is expected to be around US$10 trillion in 2024, and is estimated to reach US$21.91 trillion by 2033, registering a healthy CAGR growth of 9.35 percent from 2024 until 2033.

The Israeli operation, which the military says targets militants in the northern West Bank, was launched shortly after a truce took hold in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, a separate Palestinian territory.

The future of healthcare is shifting towards decentralized, preventive care, leveraging AI to anticipate risks and improve long-term health outcomes, Kevin Choi, CEO of Mediwhale tells TRENDS

Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered its key interest rate for a third consecutive time as inflation has fallen below 40 percent for the first time since mid-2023. The monetary policy committee "decided to reduce the policy rate from 45 percent" in January to 42.5 percent, the...

"Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," he wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time...

The GCC luxury market segment has experienced significant growth, driven by an increase in the number of high-net-worth individuals. Accommodating them requires new thinking. Michael Belton, CEO of MERED, explains.

Underground innovation, digitization, and AI are vital for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future cities, says Sam Wiffen, director and founder of Reveal.

The prospect of the Palestinian Authority (PA) governing Gaza remains far from certain, however, with Israel having ruled out any future role for the body, and Trump having closed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) liaison office in Washington during his first term while stepping up support for Israel.

Dubai, UAE -- The UAE’s real GDP increased by 3.8 percent during the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching AED 1.322 trillion. This growth was driven by a strong expansion in non-oil sectors, which grew by 4.5 percent to AED 987 billion, reflecting...

The "Aether clock OC 020" is so precise that it would take 10 billion years for it to deviate by one second, according to its Kyoto-based manufacturer Shimadzu Corp.

The region, fueled by ambition and massive investment, is rapidly advancing in technology and infrastructure, aiming to secure a leading role in the 4IR.

The Trump administration’s trade tariffs and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement pose major risks to global economic growth and energy markets. Meanwhile, record energy investment surpassing $1.5 trillion signals cautious optimism, yet low-carbon spending remains stagnant. OPEC+ faces challenges in maintaining oil prices amid resilient non-OPEC supply, adding further uncertainty...

A draft version of the Egyptian plan seen by AFP lays out a five-year roadmap with a price tag of $53 billion -- about the same amount the United Nations estimated Gaza's reconstruction would cost.

Humanity is on a tech-fueled trajectory. Data and informed predictions are inspiring, showing how AI is reshaping economies, smart cities are rising, and boundaries are dissolving.

The toll operator's revenue increased by 6% to $626 million.

Washington, United States -- Mounting trade wars between the United States and its largest economic partners deepened Tuesday as huge US tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China kicked in, sparking swift retaliation from Beijing and Ottawa. Markets fell in Asia and Europe in response to what analysts said were the...

Pressure from Trump could motivate Beijing to strengthen the kinds of support for the economy seen last year -- interest rate cuts, easing local government debt pressure and expanding subsidy programs for household goods.

President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a US official told AFP, sharply escalating pressure on Kyiv to agree to peace negotiations with Russia. The move comes just days after a stunning public clash at the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, who is...

Despite ceasefire negotiations, Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains critical, with markets facing inflation, displaced residents lacking proper shelter, and aid workers warning that food and medical assistance should remain separate from political talks.

Jerusalem -- No Other Land, a documentary about Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, has won the best documentary award at Sunday's Academy Awards. The film has been directed by Israeli-Palestinian activists. Shot in Masafer Yatta near the West Bank city of Hebron, the documentary follows a young Palestinian struggling...

Dubai, UAE -- TRENDS’ yearly Special Issue is out. This year’s edition, titled Future of Humanity, explores key global shifts and brings together expert insights on old and new forces shaping our world. The edition delves into transformative themes such as GCC’s leadership in urbanization, smart cities, and logistics, as...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Real estate transactions in Abu Dhabi reached AED17.24 billion ($4.69 billion) in the first two months of 2025, with over 5,000 transactions, reflecting the sector's strong activity. According to the "DARI" platform of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi, real estate sales transactions...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday thanked US President Donald Trump for sending munitions held up by the previous administration, which would help "finish the job against Iran's terror axis". Netanyahu has long expressed his opposition to Iran, its nuclear programme and its proxies, which include...

Truce mediators Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of blatantly violating the ceasefire deal by halting the aid, a move left trucks loaded with goods lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to Gaza.

Istanbul, Turkey - Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday declared a ceasefire with Turkey following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of armed struggle. It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after Ocalan...

The first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas was set to expire over the weekend without any certainty as to the second phase, which is hoped to bring a more permanent end to the Gaza war.

Washington, United States -- More than fifty years passed between the last Apollo mission and the United States' return to the lunar surface, when the first-ever private lander touched down last February. Now, starting Sunday, two more missions are set to follow within a single week, marking a bold push...

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the "unspeakable" row "underlined that a new age of infamy has begun". Friedrich Merz, likely to become the country's next chancellor, said: "We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war", while outgoing head of state Olaf Scholz also backed...

Washington, United States  - President Donald Trump closed out a packed week at the White House after hosting a string of eager-to-please guests, and generating the usual eye-popping menu of news items. 'Did I say that?' Last week, Trump branded elected Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" -- but things...

During a tense meeting at the White House, Trump and Zelensky argued over the war with Russia, with Trump accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the US and demanding preferential access to Ukraine’s resources.