Global

Tencent Bets on 1.4 Billion-User WeChat Empire to Get Ahead in China’s AI Race In China’s escalating artificial intelligence (AI) arms race, tech giant Tencent is placing a bold bet on its most valuable digital asset — WeChat. With over 1.4 billion users, WeChat, often dubbed China’s “everything app,” has become the centerpiece of Tencent’s strategy to dominate the country’s AI landscape. From messaging and payments to e-commerce and public services, WeChat’s immense data ecosystem is now being harnessed to fuel the next generation of AI tools and applications. Tencent recently unveiled a series of AI-powered upgrades to WeChat, including smart customer service bots, AI-generated content features, and personalized digital assistants. These enhancements, backed by Tencent’s proprietary large language model “Hunyuan,” are aimed at embedding AI more deeply into the daily habits of China’s digital population. “WeChat is not just a social app — it’s an infrastructure,” said Tencent Presiden...

lobal Economic Outlook Shows Modest Growth in 2025 — Economic stability faces headwinds from geopolitical tensions and trade realignments The World Bank and major financial institutions have forecast a modest global GDP growth rate of 2.4% in 2025 , with a slight uptick to 2.7% in 2026 , reflecting cautious optimism amid a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics. While some advanced economies such as the United States and European Union are showing resilience, growth remains uneven due to inflationary pressures, volatile energy markets, and ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Emerging markets are expected to contribute significantly to global expansion, particularly in sectors such as fintech, manufacturing, and green energy. However, challenges such as rising debt, supply chain fragmentation, and regulatory unpredictability continue to cloud the outlook. Meanwhile, U.S.–China trade talks are set to resume in Switzerland lat...

Global Factories Struggle Under Weight of Trump Tariffs and Trade Uncertainty Manufacturing industries around the world are grappling with growing disruption and economic pressure following the reintroduction of sweeping tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. The tariffs, which include duties as high as 145% on Chinese imports and new levies on Mexican and Canadian goods, have shaken global supply chains and cast a shadow of uncertainty over the international trade environment. Factories in Asia, particularly in China, reported a sharp decline in output. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Chinese manufacturing dropped faster than anticipated in April, while neighboring economies from Vietnam to South Korea are seeing reduced demand for exports. Meanwhile, U.S. manufacturers are facing increased costs for essential components and machinery, with many industries reporting delays and production slowdowns. In response to the tariffs, China and other countries have imposed retalia...