The World Bank just notched up growth expectations for Mexico, with economic momentum shifting to a still-modest 0.5% in 2025. Marginal improvement since the mid-year outlook is still below the 1.5% growth for the year that was forecast in January.…
A spicy commentary published by the Lowy Institute—a prominent Sydney-based think tank—recalibrates the relationship between Australia and Southeast Asia. “Shared prosperity” and “deepening engagement” may mean something quite different in Canberra, than Hanoi or Kuala Lumpur. Bilateral grievances center on…
Event marketing once related to the Super Bowl or a Bruce Springsteen concert. The term now applies to Hollywood blockbusters. In July, Universal started selling tickets for its opening of the movie “The Odyssey,” scheduled for 17 July 2026. Certainly…
Riyadh-based Ninja achieves unicorn status with a new funding round, led by Riyad Capital. The three-year-old venture taps into demand for quick-delivery consumer goods across the Kingdom, as well as neighboring Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Its at-hand products include potato…
In the business of initial public offerings, the global market may be faltering, but primary listing activity in Hong Kong is buoyant. We can point to market-specific factors for this divergence, but we wonder if there is a single overarching…
The Natural Diamond Council focuses on colored diamonds to differentiate natural stones from lab-grown ones. Buoyant auction prices for vivid and intense stones—supported by global economic turmoil—draws further attention to this segment of the business. As the trade group for…
Americans are going bonkers over gold, both on the supply and demand side. Many are digging deep into their family vaults to sell heirloom pieces as scrap, while others are hoarding gold over anxiety and fear. The net impact is…
Aswan, Egypt was busier than usual in February, when the Aga Khan IV, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, was buried there in the family mausoleum. Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan died at the age of 88 on February 4. His…
Commercial shipping between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean begins to see more normal patterns, as once-looming Houthi rebels suspend their unconventional, if not deadly, toll practices at Bab al-Mandab. The head of the Suez Canal Authority affirms that as many…
The humble egg becomes a beacon for the US economy. Of course, egg shortages can be explained by looking at the impact of the avian flu. Purchase restrictions at some grocery stores, though, trigger memories of pandemic frustrations, helping to…