Author: arabcolumnist.com
MENA Newswire, MEXICO CITY, December 30, 2025: At least 13 people were killed and 98 others injured after an Interoceanic train derailed in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Sunday, according to government authorities. The train, operated under the Interoceanic Railway of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, was carrying 250 people at the time of the accident, including nine crew members and 241 passengers. The Mexican Navy, which oversees security and emergency operations in the region, confirmed that 193 passengers were reported safe. Of the injured, 36 were receiving medical attention at regional hospitals, with five in critical condition. Rescue teams, including…
VIENNA, December 25, 2025: The OPEC Fund for International Development announced a new co-financing commitment of up to US$2 billion with the African Development Fund (ADF) for the period 2026 to 2030, reaffirming its ongoing financial support for Africa’s economic and social development. The agreement was disclosed by OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa during the 17th replenishment session of the ADF, the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group. The partnership aims to strengthen development financing across Africa, with a focus on projects that expand access to energy, enhance food security, build climate resilience, and improve human capital. The announcement underscores…
ABU DHABI, December 24, 2025: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, King of Malaysia, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates on a working visit lasting several days. The meeting took place at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the strong diplomatic relations and longstanding friendship between the two nations. Sheikh Mohamed welcomed King Sultan Ibrahim and conveyed his appreciation for the close partnership shared by the UAE and Malaysia. The meeting began with an exchange of greetings and cordial remarks that underscored the mutual respect between the two countries. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening…
LONDON, December 24, 2025: Gold prices surged to an all-time high on Monday, approaching the $4,500 per ounce mark, as investors sought stability amid volatile global markets and persistent geopolitical tensions. The benchmark spot price briefly touched $4,497.80 per ounce in early Asian trading, setting a new receord before easing slightly. U.S. gold futures crossed the symbolic $4,500 threshold, signaling the strongest level ever recorded for the precious metal. The rally in gold comes at the close of a year marked by broad uncertainty in financial markets, with demand for traditional safe-haven assets accelerating in December. Trading activity was lighter than…
LOS ANGELES, December 23, 2025: Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the globally acclaimed Call of Duty video game franchise and a prominent figure in the interactive entertainment industry, died on Sunday following a car crash in Southern California. He was 55. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Zampella was driving a Ferrari on the Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles on the afternoon of December 21 when the vehicle left the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Emergency responders pronounced Zampella dead at the scene. A passenger in the car also died from injuries sustained in the crash. Authorities…
ABU DHABI, December 23, 2025: Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko has been named the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year for 2025 following a breakout season that propelled her from outside the world’s top 300 to inside the top 20. The 19-year-old from Toronto achieved several milestones across the season, capturing her first WTA 1000 title and establishing herself among the leading young players on the women’s circuit. Mboko’s rise began early in 2025 with a series of victories on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour, where she won four consecutive singles titles. Her consistent performance on the lower-tier circuit…
TOKYO, December 20, 2025: The Bank of Japan on Friday raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in three decades, marking another milestone in its gradual departure from ultra-loose monetary policy. The central bank lifted its short-term policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75 percent, the highest since 1995. The move, widely anticipated by financial markets, underscores Japan’s growing confidence in its economic resilience after years of deflation and stagnant growth. The decision was approved unanimously by the central bank’s Policy Board following its two-day meeting in Tokyo. Governor Kazuo Ueda emphasized that the bank would continue to assess incoming…
DUBAI, UAE, December 20, 2025: MENA Newswire today announced the deployment of an always-on, self-serve reporting access system for its clients, powered by SpyderAPI. The enhancement introduces a dedicated reporting folder and CDN-backed delivery framework designed to provide immediate and reliable access to campaign performance reports for clients operating across global markets. The new system enables continuous access to coverage and distribution data, allowing clients to retrieve reports instantly without manual coordination or delays. Through a dedicated reporting portal, users can enter their assigned distribution ID to generate real-time reports. The reports are delivered via SpyderAPI’s content delivery network, ensuring low latency, consistent performance, and…
LONDON, December 19, 2025: Gold prices rose on Thursday as investors shifted toward safe-haven assets amid weaker risk sentiment following mixed U.S. labor market data, geopolitical tensions, and firm signals from the Federal Reserve that interest rates will remain restrictive until inflation is fully contained. Spot gold was last up 0.3 percent at $2,378.40 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures added 0.4 percent to $2,381.70. The uptick in prices came as the U.S. dollar eased slightly against major peers and Treasury yields declined after earlier gains. The softer dollar made gold more affordable for international buyers, helping to stabilize bullion prices after recent volatility. Data from the U.S. Labor Department…
ABU DHABI, December 18, 2025: The United Arab Emirates strengthened its position in 2025 as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, driven by broad-based expansion in non-oil sectors, rising trade volumes, and sustained investment inflows. Official data and global economic assessments indicated continued growth momentum supported by sound fiscal management and a resilient financial system. The Ministry of Economy reported that non-oil foreign trade increased 24.5 percent in the first half of 2025 to AED 1.7 trillion, nearly 14 times the global trade growth rate. The expansion reflected higher re-exports, diversified industrial output, and expanding logistics capabilities. The UN Conference on Trade and…