BEIJING -- In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF downgraded its global growth forecast for 2025 to 2.8 percent, a hefty 0.5 percentage points decrease from its January estimate.
"Since the release of the January WEO Update, a series of new tariff measures by the United States and countermeasures by trading partners have been announced and implemented," the report said, calling the U.S. reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2 "near-universal" and "not seen in a century." (IMF-Global Growth)
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BRUSSELS -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday imposed fines totaling 700 million euros (798.7 million U.S. dollars) on American tech giants Apple and Meta, a move expected to intensify already strained transatlantic trade relations.
Apple received a 500-million-euro fine for preventing app developers from informing users about alternative purchasing options outside its App Store, violating the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) anti-steering provisions, according to the Commission. (EU-US-Trade)
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ISTANBUL -- The number of injuries from Wednesday's 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Istanbul has risen to 236, according to Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu.
The injuries were mostly caused by panic and individuals jumping from heights during the quake, according to the minister. All injured are receiving treatment in hospitals, and no fatalities have been reported. (Türkiye-Earthquake-Injuries)
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SANAA/JERUSALEM -- Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the "missile and drone attacks" on "vital targets" in Israel's cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, which reportedly triggered sirens across northwestern Israel earlier in the day.
It is the first time the Houthis have targeted Haifa, in far northwestern Israel. (Yemen-Israel-Attacks) ■
