‘Dinosaur tartare’ and holograms: Dubai AI chef sparks awe and ire
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- A Dubai restaurant has opened that prides itself on having the world's "first AI chef",...
Arts & Culture
Singapore AI teddy back on sale after recall over sex chat scare
Singapore, Singapore -- A plushy, AI-enabled teddy bear recalled after its chatbot was found to engage in sexually explicit conversations...
Business
Geostrategy
Mediators push for Gaza ceasefire as Israel, Hamas remain stuck on hostage, withdrawal demands
Hamas has consistently demanded negotiations for the second phase, which would include a permanent end to the war, a complete...
- During the first phase of the truce agreement, Hamas released 33 hostages, including 8 deceased, and Israel released 1,800 Palestinians
- Since then, Hamas has consistently demanded negotiations for the second phase, which would include a permanent end to the war
Geostrategy
Trump, Putin to discuss Ukraine ceasefire this week
US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week, officials said on Sunday, as...
- The United States this week proposed a halt in fighting in the war after talks in Saudi Arabia, with Kyiv accepting the proposal
- Putin however has given no clear answer, instead listing a string of conditions and raising "serious questions" over the proposition
Economy
US Fed likely to keep rates steady as uncertainty over Trump’s economic policies looms
Since January, Trump has imposed levies on major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, and on steel and aluminum imports,...
- The Trump administration has also embarked on unprecedented cost-cutting efforts that target staff and spending, while the president has promised tax reductions and deregulation.
- But Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized this month that it is the "net effect" of policy changes that will matter for both the economy and monetary policy.
Business
China’s Baidu releases new, free AI model to compete with DeepSeek
Baidu announced in a WeChat post that its latest X1 reasoning model -- which the company claims performs similarly to...
- Baidu also made the models free to use, more than two weeks ahead of schedule. Previously, users had to pay a monthly subscription to access the company's latest AI models.
- Technology companies in China have been scrambling to release improved AI platforms since start-up DeepSeek shocked its rivals with its open source and highly cost-efficient model
Geostrategy
Putin tells Ukraine troops in Russian region to ‘surrender’, amid efforts for a ceasefire
Russia has mounted a rapid counteroffensive in the western border region of Kursk over the past week, recapturing much of...
- US President Donald Trump urged Putin to spare the lives of the Ukrainian troops as he said his envoy had held "productive" talks with Russia's leader
- Defeat in Kursk would be a major blow to Ukraine's plans to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in peace talks
Economy
Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats
Gold surpassed $3,000 for the first time Friday as US President Donald Trump's trade wars boost the safe-haven asset, while...
- Gold, a safe haven in times of uncertainty, rose as much as $3,004 an ounce before paring back gains later in the day to trade under $3,000
- Trump said he would not row back on the metals duties, nor plans for sweeping tariffs on countries worldwide due to kick on April 2
Geostrategy
Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, remains of 4 others
During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for...
- Israel has said it wants to extend the first phase of the ceasefire but Hamas has insisted on talks for the second phase of the deal which the US, Qatar and Egypt had mediated.
- Israel halted aid flows into Gaza 13 days ago over the truce impasse. At the weekend, it also cut off the electricity supply, which largely halted water desalination in Gaza.
Geostrategy
Iran says response to Trump’s letter under ‘assessment’
Iran will conduct a "thorough assessment" before responding to US President Donald Trump's letter urging nuclear talks and warning of...
- The letter - which Trump said was addressed to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - was delivered to Tehran by the UAE
- It was not immediately clear if Khamenei, who has the final say in matters of state, had personally received the letter
Geostrategy
Egypt, Jordan, Hamas, PLO hail Trump remarks on not ‘expelling’ Palestinians from Gaza
It was not immediately clear whether Trump's comments signalled further backtracking from his widely criticised proposal to take over the...
- Arab states have already offered a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority
- Arab foreign ministers met in Qatar on Wednesday with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss reconstruction for Gaza
Geostrategy
Arab ministers, US envoy discuss Gaza reconstruction amid ongoing ceasefire talks in Qatar
The plan by Muslim-majority nations has been rejected by both Israel and its key ally the United States, but has...
- The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted a plan put forward by the Arab League at an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia
- The Egyptian-spearheaded plan emerged as a proposal to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
‘Dinosaur tartare’ and holograms: Dubai AI chef sparks awe and ire
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- A Dubai restaurant has opened that prides itself on having the world's "first AI chef",...
Arts & Culture
Company News
Latest News
US says ‘framework’ deal with China on TikTok ownership
Donald Trump said -- without directly naming the social media giant -- that a deal was reached with a "certain...
Business
UN rights expert says complicity with Gaza ‘genocide’ ‘shame of our time’
Albanese added that "this genocide has something different, is openly incited, cynically denied and relentlessly supported, armed and weaponized, while...
Geostrategy
WTO fishing deal: the net results
Agreed by more than 100 WTO members, the agreement sets binding rules requiring governments to consider the legality and sustainability...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
As King Charles hosts Trump, what do UK state visits entail?
London, United Kingdom - US President Donald Trump arrives in the UK late Tuesday for a state visit with his...
- These pomp-filled visits are organised at the recommendation of the British government to cement diplomatic, trade or personal relations with certain countries and their leaders
- Trump is the first president ever to be invited for a second state visit, having been hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, during his first White House term
Geostrategy
Spain PM ‘proud’ of pro-Palestinian protests at Vuelta
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday said pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked the Vuelta a Espana filled him with...
- The protests, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over the devastating war in Gaza, have disrupted several stages of one of cycling's three grand tours
- The activism has forced some stages to be shortened and occasionally caused crashes as demonstrators burst onto the course, prompting criticism for threatening rider safety
Geostrategy
Qatar PM Al Thani urges world to ‘stop using double standards’ and punish Israel
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urged the international community on Sunday to "stop using double standards"...
- He was speaking at a preparatory meeting on the eve of an emergency summit of Arab and Islamic leaders organised by Qatar after Israel carried out an air strike in Doha
- According to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, Monday's meeting of Arab and Islamic leaders will consider "a draft resolution on the Israeli attack