Category: World

The International Monetary Fund has sharply downgraded its global economic outlook for 2025, attributing the slowdown to U.S. President Donald Trump's expansive tariff regime and the resulting policy uncertainty. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF projects global growth at 2.8% for 2025, down from 3.3% forecasted in January, marking the slowest pace since 2020 and the second weakest since the 2009 financial crisis. The U.S. economy is expected to be among the most affected, with growth projections

Harvard University has initiated legal proceedings against the Trump administration following the suspension of over $2.2 billion in federal research funding. This action comes after the university's refusal to comply with federal directives demanding significant changes to its governance, admissions policies, and campus activities. The administration's directives included overhauling leadership structures, modifying admissions criteria, auditing campus diversity initiatives, and discontinuing recognition of certain student organizations. These demands were issued amid allegations that Harvard permitted antisemitic sentiments during campus protests concerning the

Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first Latin American pontiff, died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed his death at 7:35 a.m. local time in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence, following complications from double pneumonia. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected pope on 13 March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI. His papacy marked a significant shift in tone and priorities for the Church, focusing

Libya's Central Bank has enacted a 13.3% devaluation of the national currency, setting the official exchange rate at 5.5677 dinars per US dollar. This marks the first such adjustment since 2020, as the country grapples with escalating economic instability and a widening gap between official and black-market rates, which have reached 7.20 dinars per dollar. The devaluation underscores the deepening fiscal crisis in Libya, where rival administrations have engaged in unchecked public spending. In 2024, combined expenditures by the two governments

Kompact AI, a collaboration between IIT Madras and Bengaluru-based startup Ziroh Labs, has claimed a significant breakthrough in artificial intelligence by enabling large language models to operate efficiently on central processing units rather than the traditionally used graphics processing units . The initiative, branded as Kai VM, reportedly achieved an inference speed of 43 tokens per second on an Intel Xeon Silver 4510 CPU with 24 cores and 46GB RAM. This development has been touted as a potential game-changer for

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have successfully grown 10-gram, nugget-sized pieces of chicken meat in a laboratory setting, marking a significant advancement in the field of cultivated meat. The research team, led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi, utilised a bioreactor system that mimics the body's circulatory system to deliver nutrients and oxygen to chicken muscle cells, enabling the growth of thicker and more structured meat tissues. This development addresses a longstanding challenge in lab-grown meat production: the difficulty of supplying

Lyft has announced its entry into the European ride-hailing market through the acquisition of FreeNow, a mobility platform jointly owned by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for €175 million . This strategic move nearly doubles Lyft's addressable market, expanding from 161 billion to over 300 billion personal vehicle trips annually. FreeNow operates in more than 150 cities across nine European countries, including major urban centres such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan. The platform offers a range of services, from traditional taxis to

The United States is contemplating a significant escalation in its trade policy by considering tariff increases on Chinese imports, with rates potentially reaching up to 245%. This move underscores the intensifying economic rivalry between the two nations and reflects Washington's growing concern over China's trade practices and their impact on American industries. The proposed tariffs aim to address what U.S. officials describe as China's unfair trade practices, including forced technology transfers and intellectual property violations. By imposing higher duties, the U.S.

President Donald Trump has affirmed that Chinese-made electronics, including smartphones and laptops, will not be exempt from U.S. tariffs, signaling a continuation of his administration's protectionist trade policies. Despite a temporary 90-day pause on certain tariffs, Trump clarified that these products remain subject to existing levies and may face additional duties under national security considerations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that electronics will be reclassified under semiconductor tariffs within the next one to two months. This move aligns with the administration's

European stock markets gained ground on Monday, with investor sentiment buoyed by expectations of a break from the escalation of global trade tensions. As concerns over tariffs eased, the market shifted its focus towards corporate earnings for the first quarter, which could offer valuable insights into the resilience of businesses amidst ongoing global challenges. The major indices in Europe showed positive momentum, with investors optimistic about potential recovery signals despite persistent uncertainties. The Stoxx 600, representing the broader European market, saw

Tesla owners are increasingly parting ways with their electric vehicles, resulting in a surge in used car listings, as well as declining resale values. With the electric vehicle giant facing mounting criticism and ongoing controversies surrounding its CEO, Elon Musk, the trend appears to be gaining momentum. The used car market for Teslas has reached an unprecedented high, with some industry reports revealing a surge in listings, particularly for the more established Tesla models such as the Model S and

Panama has unequivocally rejected a proposal from the United States to establish military bases on its territory, asserting its sovereignty over the Panama Canal and dismissing claims of foreign control. The proposal, presented by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his visit to Panama City, aimed to deepen military cooperation and counter alleged Chinese influence in the region. President José Raúl Mulino responded by reaffirming Panama's control over the canal, stating, "The Canal is and will continue to be Panama's". He

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is under increasing scrutiny following the suspension of its Naira-for-Crude policy, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from various stakeholders who argue it undermines local refinery operations and exacerbates economic challenges. Introduced in October 2024, the Naira-for-Crude initiative aimed to supply crude oil to domestic refineries in exchange for payment in Naira, thereby reducing reliance on foreign exchange and stabilizing fuel prices. The policy was part of a broader strategy to bolster the

Zambia is set to resume construction of a high-voltage transmission line connecting its power grid with Tanzania’s, a move expected to enhance energy security and foster economic integration across Eastern and Southern Africa. The Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project , backed by a $292 million financing package from the World Bank, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the European Union, aims to establish a 620-kilometre, 400kV double-circuit transmission line. This line will run from Iringa in Tanzania to the Zambian border,

Morocco is poised to become a central figure in Africa's digital transformation as it prepares to host the third edition of GITEX Africa Morocco from 14 to 16 April 2025 in Marrakech. This event, held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is organized by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in partnership with the Digital Development Agency (ADD) and KAOUN International. It aims to showcase the continent's technological advancements and foster international collaborations. The upcoming

Zimbabwe's tobacco farmers are confronting significant financial setbacks as barn fires destroy substantial portions of their harvests, exacerbating existing economic pressures. The 2025 tobacco marketing season, which commenced on March 5, has seen farmers grappling with these unforeseen losses. Barn fires have long plagued Zimbabwe's tobacco industry, with many incidents linked to the use of traditional curing methods that rely heavily on firewood. This practice not only contributes to deforestation but also increases the risk of fires that can decimate entire

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a cornerstone in pharmaceutical research, with numerous companies leveraging advanced algorithms to expedite drug discovery and development. This transformative approach aims to reduce the time and cost traditionally associated with bringing new medications to market. Exscientia, headquartered in Oxford, UK, has been a pioneer in integrating AI into small-molecule drug design. The company's platform, Centaur Chemist, combines human expertise with AI to generate novel drug candidates. Notably, Exscientia reported the first AI-designed drug candidate to

The South African rand has fallen to unprecedented levels against the U.S. dollar, reaching 19.8225 on April 9, 2025, nearing its June 2023 record of 19.9075. This marks a decline of over 3% within the week. The depreciation is attributed to escalating global trade tensions and internal political instability. The recent downturn follows U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, with South African goods facing a specific 31% duty. This move has significantly impacted key

A catastrophic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has resulted in the deaths of at least 113 individuals, with more than 250 others injured. The incident occurred during the early hours of Tuesday, 8 April 2025, as patrons gathered for a merengue concert featuring renowned singer Rubby Pérez. Witnesses reported that the venue was filled with between 500 and 1,000 attendees when the ceiling began to show signs of instability. Approximately an hour into the