Author: Steven Sahiounie

Bitcoin remains the most-searched cryptocurrency in 2022 by far thanks to its top-brand status and being in a league of its own when it comes to decentralization.Cryptocurrencies have suffered immensely in 2022 from the onslaught of a hawkish Federal Reserve and the implosions of crypto platforms FTX, Terra, Celsius Network, and others.What were the most-searched cryptocurrencies in 2022?Notably, the market valuation of all the cryptocurrencies combined has dropped 70% year-to-date (YTD) to nearly $770 billion, signifying massive capitulations by traders and investors alike.The waning demand has also pushed the internet requests fo6r the keyword “buy cryptocurrency” to their lowest since February 2020, according to Google…

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Lebanon to “get rid” of its political leadership who have for months blocked reforms vital to save its stricken economy. He said an international conference to offer support to the country would be organised in the coming weeks. “The problem with Lebanon is that we must solve people’s problems and get rid of those who cannot do it,” Macron said, referring to the country’s entrenched political class — widely blamed for the country’s financial collapse since late 2019.”Lebanon must change its leadership,” he said in an interview on Friday with three media outlets including Lebanon’s…

Foreign experts have dubbed the Vietnamese economy as a miracle in Asia and a bright spot of economic growth in Asia-Pacific as a result of the Vietnamese Government’s sound and effective economic management policies.Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign experts have dubbed the Vietnamese economy as a miracle in Asia and a bright spot of economic growth in Asia-Pacific as a result of the Vietnamese Government’s sound and effective economic management policies.”Let Vietnam’s success story be told to the world,” said CEO of HSBC Vietnam Tim Evans at a conference between the Vietnamese Prime Minister and foreign-invested firms in early September.Apart from him,…

The For a small but growing network of countries, the world’s go-to metric of economic health is no longer fit for purpose.Mostly led by women, Finland, Iceland, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand are all members of the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership. The coalition, which is expected to expand in the coming months, aims to transform economies around the world to deliver shared well-being for people and the planet by 2040.That means abandoning the idea that the percentage change in gross domestic product is a good indicator of progress, and instead reframing economic policy to deliver quality of life for all…

economy grew by 3.2% in the third quarter — after negative growth during the first half of 2022.But a number of states are seeing flat or negative economic growth as inflation, though moderating, and high interest rates impact consumer and business spending.Energy and mining helped propel growth in Alaska, Texas, Wyoming and other states with the highest GDP gains in the third quarter versus a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis numbers released Dec. 23.Alaska (8.7%), Texas (8.5%), Oklahoma (5.5%), Wyoming (5.3%) and North Dakota (5.2%) posted the strongest economic growth numbers in the third quarter,…

Nepal’s new government, led by the former Maoist rebel chief, will try to balance ties with its immediate neighbours China and India as it seeks economic growth in one of the world’s poorest countries, officials of the ruling coalition told Reuters.Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who still goes by his nom de guerre Prachanda, unexpectedly became prime minister for a third time on Sunday after leaving his previous coalition and securing the support of the opposition Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and five other smaller groups. Last month’s election had returned a hung parliament.The UML leader and former prime minister, Khadga Prasad…

UAE-based conglomerate Al Habtoor Group will build three mega residential projects worth an estimated 9.5 billion dirhams ($2.58 billion) across Dubai in 2023, according to a statement.“The strong economic recovery in Dubai in 2022 and the high development levels that have reached new heights not even witnessed before the COVID-19 crisis, were encouraging factors to be involved again in the real estate sector and increase investments in new quality projects,” the statement said, citing founding Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor.Located in Al Habtoor City, the first project is set to entail a number of residential towers, one of which is set to be the largest…

Saudi Arabia is the second largest investor in Egypt, with $6.1 billion poured into 6,017 projects, according to the north African country’s Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir. The trade minister announced the investment figure during his visit to Riyadh on Dec. 25, where he met Saudi ministers and senior officials to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. According to Samir, Saudi Arabia’s investments in Egypt span across various sectors including industry, construction, tourism, agriculture, services, finance, communications and information technology.The trade minister also added that trade exchange between Egypt and Saudi Arabia surged 41.3 percent year-on-year to $4.572 billion…

Diageo, the top international spirits brand and the producer of Don Julio tequila, noted that tequila is one of the fastest growing spirits categories. Alcoholic beverages as a whole have seen record growth over the last decade, in both developed and emerging markets. This is fueled by population growth, greater penetration of spirits and increased demand for premium products.The industry is only expected to grow in the following years, with 600 million likely new customers by 2032 due to continued increases in “middle and upper class income.” Moreover, spirits penetration remains relatively low, providing opportunity for further growth. In the…

NEWS WIRESAddressing the country from the Windsor Castle chapel where his mother, Elizabeth II, was interred in September, the 74-year-old also thanked people for the “love and sympathy” expressed following her death.Standing aside a sparkling Christmas tree, the sovereign noted in the annual royal message — broadcast at 1500 GMT — that it is a “particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones”.He then turned to the impact of the country’s growing economic woes, as decades-high inflation eats into earnings and escalates strikes over pay across the public and private sectors.”I particularly want to pay tribute…