Latest news with #Economies
CNA
18 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA Correspondent - Global Trade : On The Brink
Trade tensions between the US and several countries rise as new tariffs loom. Some trade talks face hurdles due to domestic concerns, even as other economies pivot to new markets to offset tariffs.
Finextra
13-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Real-Time Payments and the Future of Cross-Border Transactions: What Businesses Need to Know: By Parminder Saini
Real-time payments (RTP) are speeding up cross-border transactions, reducing processing times from days to seconds. Businesses can now enjoy instant fund transfers, better cash flow management, and improved transparency. With APIs, ISO 20022 messaging, and global collaborations, real-time payments are transforming the way companies operate across borders. Waiting days or weeks for international payments to clear used to be the norm. That's no longer the case. Real-time payments are closing the gap between different economies, with financial activity now moving faster than it ever has. In many cases, the speed of transfers now determines how well a platform performs, how smoothly a sale goes through, or how long a user sticks around. Cross-border transactions were traditionally slow, costly, and opaque. But the rise of real-time payments (RTP) is changing that. With near-instant transfers, standardized messaging protocols like ISO 20022, and fintech-led innovations, businesses now operate in a faster, more transparent financial environment. Real-time settlement across jurisdictions reduces reliance on intermediaries, slashes fees, and strengthens trust. Whether it's B2B payments or gig economy payouts, RTP is the future of global money movement. Digital entertainment platforms that operate outside a user's home country rely on real-time payments to stay competitive. Streaming sites, international gaming platforms, and even gambling platforms have made this shift out of necessity. How Real-Time Payments Are Transforming Cross-Border Business Real-time payments are revolutionizing cross-border transactions with instant settlements, better transparency, and reduced costs. Learn how your business can benefit. Faster settlements : Transactions that used to take 2–5 days now clear in seconds or minutes. Enhanced transparency : ISO 20022 enables standardized messaging and better tracking. Lower transaction costs : RTP reduces dependency on SWIFT and intermediary banks. Improved liquidity : Real-time access to funds enhances cash flow and working capital. Global adoption: Markets like EU, Singapore, UK, and India are embracing RTP for global trade. For instance, fish gambling games are interactive, shooter-style games that offer huge win potential, with significant multiplier prizes and big payout opportunities. You rack up wins by aiming at high-value fish, and when those multipliers hit, the rewards can spike fast. That kind of instant excitement only works if the payments keep up. A review of fish game gambling sites shows that these platforms typically support flexible, fast payment methods like crypto, e-wallets, and even prepaid cards to make sure players get their money without delay. If withdrawals are slow or deposits fail to reflect instantly, users tend to leave. In spaces where there are dozens of alternatives, there's little tolerance for delays. What used to take two or three days now happens in seconds. Across borders, this shift means users can pay for services, top up their accounts, or cash out without dealing with clearinghouse delays or timezone restrictions. That expectation now extends further than online entertainment. E-commerce retailers that cater to international customers want to be paid immediately after an order is placed. Small businesses exporting to other markets want to avoid the lag that slows down their supply chains. The speed of the transaction is starting to impact the pace of the business. The UK hasn't always been at the forefront of this movement, but that's starting to change. The upcoming Real-Time Rail (RTR) system is designed to support faster domestic payments, but the bigger win lies in how it links up with global systems. As this framework rolls out, cross-border transactions are expected to see fewer hold-ups and better transparency. Payment confirmations within seconds will no longer be limited to closed-loop systems or major platforms. Smaller businesses and individuals will start feeling the difference as well. In many remote and rural parts of the country, reliable banking infrastructure isn't always within reach. That's where real-time digital payments make a measurable difference. A contract worker in a smaller town can receive same-day payment from a client in another country. A student living away from home can get tuition support transferred instantly rather than waiting for the bank to release the funds. These are small changes on paper, but they make everyday life far less stressful. Cross-border payments also play a big role in family support, especially among immigrant households. Remittances sent back home often carry emotional and time-sensitive weight. The faster they arrive, the better. A delay of even a day can disrupt rent payments, emergency healthcare needs, or school fees in the recipient country. Real-time options reduce that uncertainty. More platforms offering fast, reliable cross-border transfers now cater specifically to this type of personal transaction, responding to demand that simply didn't exist a few years ago. On the business side, firms that rely on regular imports or contract-based labour across borders now prioritise payment speed just as much as price or quality. Many are moving away from traditional wire services and opting for platforms that integrate directly with their accounting systems and offer instant cross-border settlements. It cuts down admin time, gives a better sense of cash flow, and opens the door to working with more partners in more regions. While the infrastructure behind real-time payments is still evolving, what's clear is that people no longer treat payment speed as a bonus. It's an expectation. Whether they're streaming, gaming, paying a supplier, or sending money to family, users notice when a platform handles transactions quickly, and they leave when it doesn't.
Mid East Info
08-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Khazna Data Centers Standardizes on International Data Center Authority (IDCA) for Global Excellence - Middle East Business News and Information
Khazna Data Centers has signed a strategic alliance with the International Data Center Authority IDCA, the world's leading digital economy think tank and the digital infrastructure standardization, certification and education authority for modern data centers, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence AI. Headquartered in Washington D.C., IDCA will review and analyze Khazna's operations with its globally recognized standards. This includes data center design, service delivery, cloud and AI deployments, and workforce development. 'IDCA's framework is an industry benchmark that reflects the full complexity of modern digital infrastructure, particularly in cloud and AI,' said Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna. 'Our alignment to these standards is another step towards aligning with broader international benchmarks.' 'This strategic alliance between IDCA and Khazna will give Khazna's current and future clients the assurance that their data is being housed in facilities meeting the leading global standards and latest best practices,' said IDCA Chairman and CEO Mehdi Paryavi in making the announcement. 'Khazna plays such a critical role in the future of digital infrastructure for Cloud and AI, and its adoption of IDCA standards exhibits the company's commitment in making a global impact.' The certification process, which began on July 1, 2025, includes comprehensive audits of Khazna's infrastructure, operational protocols, and corporate systems. Dedicated teams from both organizations have already been mobilized to oversee the full compliance and certification program. 'As AI becomes a defining force in our industry, our partnership with IDCA underscores our commitment to building intelligent, efficient, and globally competitive data centers,' added Alnaqbi. Paryavi added: 'IDCA projects a growth of data center capacity from the current level of around 55GW to as much as 250 to 300GW by 2030. This massive explosion of demand requires leading emerging global players like Khazna, who are already delivering results at scale, to meet international benchmarks.' About Khazna Data Centers: As one of the fastest growing hyperscale data center platforms globally, Khazna Data Centers enables the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital economies by delivering advanced infrastructure with unparalleled energy efficiency. Khazna is at the forefront of data center technology, pioneering solutions that combine innovation, resiliency, and sustainability. Khazna empowers governments, businesses, and societies to thrive in the digital age with data centers that are designed to handle the high-density computing requirements essential for the next-generation, AI-powered applications powering the future economy. About IDCA: International Data Center Authority (IDCA) is the global bipartisan digital economy think tank that works with nations to create AI policies, Digital Hubs and Digital Economies through the standardization of the approach, selection, design, feasibility, operation, and various processes and methodologies of digital infrastructure and related processes and systems. The global IDCA team works with its partners and affiliates worldwide to achieve the optimum delivery of its advanced services locally and effectively at every project. IDCA is represented in more than 40 countries and active globally in North America, South America, Western Europe, Middle East, Eastern Europe, West Africa, North Africa, East Africa, Central, and South Africa, Southeast Asia, and Asia Pacific.
Web Release
26-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 Advances Vision for Intelligent & Sustainable Digital Transformation across Communications Networks and Digital Economy
With the chief patronage of the TDRA-UAE, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 was held today in Dubai with a renewed call for accelerating transformation across technologies, communications networks, and digital economies, with unified digital action across the South Asia–Middle East–North Africa region at large. Organized by the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the Summit gathered a high-profile community of global policymakers, regional regulators, technology firms, and digital ecosystem enablers from across the globe at Madinat Jumeirah, to identify and address real-world imperatives of building intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable digital economies, especially in the 5G-Advanced and AI digital environment. Held under the theme 'Intelligent & Sustainable Transformation of Digital Economies', this year's Summit arrived at a critical moment—when the first operational wave of agentic AI, intelligent networks, and data-driven policy is demanding new forms of collaboration, infrastructure planning, network monetization, app-ecosystem advancements, and regulatory foresight. With 2025 marking a historic inflection point in digital enablement, especially in view of UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the Summit's agenda was designed to align on the priorities, technologies, networks, as well as business and governance models that will define the region's next chapter in the region's digital transformation. Following a high-level Opening Ceremony, which included keynotes from TDRA, Huawei, ITU, DCDT (South Africa), DCO, WBBA, and ZTE, and an MoU signing ceremony between the WBBA and the SAMENA Council, the Leaders' Summit 2025 welcomed the Guest of Honor, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who delivered a powerful keynote message for the ICT industry. Throughout the day, the Summit served as a strategic platform for deep exploration across critical domains. The 'Space & Digital Connectivity' session discussed the growing role of Mobile Satellite Services and non-terrestrial networks in expanding regional reach and resilience, particularly in anticipation of WRC-27 as well as ongoing priority issues in space development and sustainability. In parallel, the TDRA-chaired Multi-TRA Digital Transformation Forum brought together regional regulators as well as UAE government entities to explore digital service transformation and improved delivery of citizen-centric services by leveraging the 5G and 5G-A infrastructure. Key stakeholder deliberation sessions also included a preparatory informal G20-centric roundtable among private and government-sector stakeholders from the G20 and non-G20 member countries. The roundtable was convened with the primary objective to facilitating an exchange of insights in view of South Africa's presidency of the G20 summit, which will take place in November 2025. The evolution of next-generation networks, which has mandated telecom operators to transform their business models, was in sharp focus at dedicated business-centric sessions, including the Techco Transformation session and the 5G-Advanced Leaders' Forum, where participants examined how AI-powered, experience-centric services are redefining monetization strategies and elevating network value. Conversations moved beyond connectivity to addressing how operators must now lead in curating intelligent, adaptive digital experiences. Further roundtable sessions on Smarter Cyberspace and Digital Enablement delved into emerging governance challenges in AI, Fiber connectivity, cybersecurity imperatives for telecom operators as well as governments and other ecosystem partners. Discussions also focused on identifying practical, strategic pathways for driving affordability, accessibility, growth, and openness, in digital innovation, with the aim to new end-user experiences, sustainable ecosystem and competition-centric considerations, and ways to make the data-driven economy sustainable as well. These topics also came into discussion at the last panel of the day, which built on the Summit's first panel on revenue growth opportunities for telecom operators, including through 'super apps'. The 9th Global ICT Energy Efficiency Summit, hosted within the broader SAMENA Leaders' Summit, pushed the conversation toward climate-aware digital growth. With rising energy consumption from expanding digital infrastructure, speakers called for scalable, green design principles and renewed commitments from both public and private stakeholders. Energy efficiency is now a core requirement for long-term viability, as is the safety of power solutions, including lithium batteries. Beyond the formal sessions, the Leaders' Summit 2025 also operated as a powerful networking and visibility arena, showcasing region-led digital breakthroughs and connecting global best practices with local execution. It was a space where digital policies met engineering realities—and where strategic dialogue evolved into tangible partnership pathways. In his keynote remarks, Bocar A. BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, spoke candidly about the transition the region is navigating: 'We are in the age of intelligent connectivity and operate in a landscape where infrastructure is no longer just about coverage—it is about cognition, energy discipline, and service relevance. In this context, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit is not simply an event. It is a mechanism for regional coordination, for responsible innovation, and for establishing the shared direction we need. We cannot afford to be fragmented, neither in vision nor in execution.' The Summit's success was made possible by a coalition of trusted partners and institutions whose commitment to the SAMENA platform signals confidence in the power of regional cooperation. SAMENA Council extended special thanks to the ITU leadership for the UN agency's ongoing collaboration and guidance, which continues to reinforce the principle of global policy alignment in an increasingly complex digital environment. DCO leadership was thanked for the message on fostering digital cooperation. SAMENA Council also extended appreciation to DCDT South Africa for leadership collaboration on creating an engagement exercise during the Leaders' Summit 2025 to exchange cross-regional and cross-sector insights. Acknowledgment was also given to the Summit's industry partners: Chair Sponsor stc, Host Sponsor Huawei, Platinum Sponsor Mobily, Gold Sponsor ZTE, Industry Development Partner the World Broadband Association, and Strategic Partner 7Generation. Their engagement reflects a shared belief in the Summit's mission and in the importance of sustained public-private coordination across the region. As the event drew to a close, a clear recognition emerged that, to deliver on the promise of digital transformation, the region must operationalize its ambitions with shared strategies, bold governance, and inclusive innovation at every level, and that ecosystem partners should be working closely together, and Operators should recognize that the best way forward is to become technology companies or 'techcos' by making use of intelligence on their networks operating in the 5G/5G-A environment. 'The future of our digital societies is not being written by technology alone,' Bocar A. BA concluded. 'It will be written by how wisely we govern, how inclusively we build, and how effectively we lead. That is the spirit of the SAMENA Leaders' Summit—and the legacy we are committed to building together, with the support of all of you. And once again SAMENA Council would like to thank our chief patron and partners in the Leaders' Summit for their active support to building a legacy of industry collaboration.'
Bloomberg
16-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Asian Currencies May Chart Different Paths After Recent Rally
Asian currencies are set to take divergent paths after a collective rally against the dollar, as investors navigate trade uncertainty and growth concerns about the world's top two economies. China's yuan may appreciate beyond its current resistance of 7.20 against the greenback by some estimates, while South Korea's won faces 1,380 per dollar as the immediate ceiling. Meanwhile, the Malaysian ringgit and Thai baht both may resume weakening, with India's rupee eying support at 86.20 per dollar.
