Iraq bans Roblox game platform citing ‘moral values’
Iraq has banned US gaming platform Roblox over what it described as sexual content, blasphemy and risks of online blackmail...
Business
OpenAI halts MLK videos as deepfakes spark outrage
Washington, United States -- OpenAI has suspended its Sora 2 artificial intelligence tool from creating videos of civil rights icon...
Geostrategy
Economy
Shekel’s decline raises economic concerns in Israel
Israeli officials show confidence in the economy's resilience amid Gaza conflict, but experts warn of challenges if tensions escalate with...
- Israeli officials show confidence in the economy's resilience amid Gaza conflict, but experts warn of challenges if tensions escalate with Hizbollah due to a declining currency.
- Economists doubt Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's aptness amid crisis, while Bank of Israel acts against the shekel's fall and S&P downgrades Israel's credit outlook.
Business
Arab Bank posts net profit
It posted a profit of $630 million in January-September 2023.
- The Group maintained its strong capital base with a total equity of $10.8 billion.
- Excluding the impact of devaluation of several currencies against the US dollar, loans grew by 4 percent.
Economy
Federal Reserve likely to pause interest rate hikes
The Federal Reserve will likely announce it is holding interest rates at a 22-year high on Wednesday, as it looks...
- Interest rate hikes slow down inflation by raising the cost of borrowing from the bank, which dampens economic activity and weakens the labor market.
- Since peaking at more than seven percent in June last year, inflation as measured by the Fed's favored yardstick has fallen by more than half.
Economy
Buildings should absorb more carbon than they release
"Buildings should produce more clean energy than they consume. This transformation demands a reevaluation of our relationship with nature. Rather...
- Renowned architect and design innovator Michael Pawlyn emphasizes the need for net positive sustainability actions.
- The health of natural systems is pivotal for future progress, he adds during the recent Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed lecture.
Economy
Capital flows to emerging markets facing short-term headwinds: QNB
Doha, Qatar--Qatar National Bank (QNB) said that the global macro trends are starting to present short-term challenges to emerging markets...
- QNB said in its weekly analysis that after a span of positive inflow of capital to emerging markets touching US$50bn in January, the flow turned negative since August
- Indicators suggest below trend growth in the Euro area, China and several other EM and as a result the growth gap is expected to further widen in favour of the US versus EM
Economy
Tech development must be ethical, inclusive: Scientist
Interdisciplinary discussions can help in guiding ethical tech development for the greater good, Karen Hallberg of Argentina's Bariloche Atomic Centre...
- Interdisciplinary discussions can help in guiding ethical tech development for the greater good, Karen Hallberg of Argentina's Bariloche Atomic Centre tells TRENDS.
- Hallberg highlights the technological divide between the Global North and South, emphasizing the urgency for regulations and diverse voices in tech dialogues.
Geostrategy
Middle East conflict may disrupt global trade routes
Recent developments spark concerns that the conflict, which is spreading across the region, presents a long-term threat to global energy...
- Recent developments spark concerns that the conflict, which is spreading across the region, presents a long-term threat to global energy and commercial infrastructure.
- IMF's Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank's Ajay Banga stress economic vulnerabilities and development impacts amid volatile oil prices potentially surpassing $100 per barrel.
Geostrategy
Iran, Russia to invest $38bn in developing INSTC
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Iranian head of Solyanka Port in Russia said that the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a...
- The Iranian head of Solyanka Port spoke of the measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL ) to develop the INSTC route.
- The IRISL group purchased 30 rail wagons, 5,400 containers and ordered the construction of 21 equipped vessels for strengthening maritime routes.
Economy
Air passengers with disabilities need special assistance
"However, the actual needs of the traveler might differ. They might simply need help navigating crowded airports, have difficulty with...
- Linda Ristagno, IATA’s Assistant Director for External Affairs, emphasizes the need for tailored special assistance
- 80% satisfaction rate among passengers using special assistance, according to IATA's 2023 Global Passenger Survey
Business
GFH Capital mulls listing on Saudi market, says CEO
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - GFH Capital is considering the offering of its unit in Saudi Arabia on the Tadawul. GFH...
- The group is listed on the stock exchanges of Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
- The group is continuing with fulfilling the regulatory requirements prior to listing.
Iraq bans Roblox game platform citing ‘moral values’
Iraq has banned US gaming platform Roblox over what it described as sexual content, blasphemy and risks of online blackmail...
Business
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Oil prices on the rise despite down week
Oil prices rose on Friday as markets weighed the threat of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump on Mexico and...
‘Global Collaboration Village aims to digitize and democratize WEF dialogues’
DAVOS: The future of global collaborations is being shaped by innovation and the ubiquitous embrace of immersive technologies, which continue...
Economy
Readying for jobs of tomorrow: WEF’s Till Leopold stresses upskilling
Davos, Switzerland -- In the next five years, millions of jobs will be created. Governments, employers, and education institutions, therefore,...
World Economic Forum
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World Economic Forum
Lithium-sulfur batteries will transform energy storage, says Lyten’s Horvath
Lyten, a Silicon Valley-based company, is revolutionizing the energy storage market with its groundbreaking lithium-sulfur battery technology. These batteries offer...
- Lithium-sulfur batteries are about half the weight of a lithium-ion batteries, but they have twice the energy density.
- These batteries work better in heat and, therefore, will be better suited to tropical countries that are expected to grow at a much faster pace.
Economy
‘Middle East is a promising area with a lot of initiatives going on in the UAE, Saudi Arabia’
Beyond AI, new technologies will leverage artificial intelligence to drive the next phase of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Alphaeus Hanson,...
- The Middle East is emerging as a key investment hub, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar leading ambitious initiatives, Hanson tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview
- Beyond AI, new technologies will leverage artificial intelligence to drive the next phase of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he adds
Economy
NHC signs strategic deals worth $8 billion at the opening of Real Estate Future Forum 2025
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The National Housing Company (NHC) has signed a series of agreements, deals, and memoranda of understanding...
- The agreements included a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to enhance collaboration in supply chains
- In another key agreement, a memorandum of understanding was signed with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)