Bain identifies four priorities for sovereign wealth funds as assets approach $30 trillion
State-backed investors are expanding beyond traditional investment models, increasing exposure to alternatives, AI and direct deals while balancing returns with...
Economy
Saudi, UAE startups join World Economic Forum’s global tech cohort
Saudi Arabia was represented by intella, which develops Arabic-language speech recognition and analytics tools, and Nommas Technologies, which provides AI-powered...
Geostrategy
Science
How social media can ‘trigger’ eating disorders in young people
Paris, France -- Social media can push vulnerable young people towards developing eating disorders by glorifying thinness and promoting fake,...
- Young women and girls are much more likely to suffer from illnesses such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, though rates among men have been increasing.
- Research has shown the percentage of people worldwide who have had some kind of eating disorder during their lives rose from 3.5 percent in 2000 to 7.8 percent in 2018.
ADNOC expands its STEM Education Programme to empower UAE students in AI
Abu Dhabi, UAE – ADNOC has expanded its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programme to empower UAE students...
- Launched in January 2025, the Future of AI Schools Challenge received 14,500 applicants from 351 schools across the country
- During the final, ADNOC and AIQ showcased how ENERGYai, the world’s first agentic AI solution for the energy industry
Business
Google makes case for keeping Chrome browser in US court
Washington, United States - Google on Friday urged a US judge to reject the notion of making it spin off...
- US government attorneys have called for divesting Google of Chrome browser, contending that AI is poised to ramp up it's dominance
- They also want Google barred from agreements with partners such as Apple and Samsung to distribute its search tools
Interview
Generative AI’s most prominent skeptic doubles down
Vancouver, Canada -- Two and a half years since ChatGPT rocked the world, scientist and writer Gary Marcus still remains...
- Marcus's criticism centers on a fundamental belief: generative AI, the predictive technology that churns out seemingly human-level content, is too flawed to be transformative.
- The large language models (LLMs) that power these capabilities are inherently broken, he argues, and will never deliver on Silicon Valley's grand promises.
Economy
Chief Economists warn global growth under strain from trade policy shocks and AI disruption
The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and tariff volatility fuel...
- The report reveals that 79% of surveyed economists view the current geoeconomic developments as signs of a significant structural shift for economy than a temporary disruption
- Nearly all the chief economists (97%) place trade policy among the areas of highest uncertainty, followed by monetary policy (49%) and fiscal policy (35%)
Economy
OPEC+ ministers, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, meet as oil output hike looms despite falling prices
The 22-nation group began a series of cuts in 2022 to prop up crude prices, but Saudi Arabia, Russia and...
- The 22-nation group began a series of cuts in 2022 to prop up crude prices, but Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members surprised markets recently by sharply raising output
- The move has put pressure on prices, which have also fallen as investors worry that US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught will cause an economic slump and weigh on demand
Economy
OPEC+ expected to open taps more despite price slump
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies - collectively known as OPEC+ - have justified their change...
- This follows pressure from US President Donald Trump and group leader Saudi Arabia's quest to penalise allies that breach the cartel's quotas
- In past months, Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other OPEC+ members have surprised markets by announcing a sharp increase in oil production
Economy
United Kingdom renationalizes first train operator under Labor reforms
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's South Western Railways on Sunday becomes the first private train operator to be returned to...
- Renationalizing all of the UK's rail operators is among the key policies launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer since his party's return to government last July.
- Train passengers in Britain suffer from frequent cancellations, in addition to high ticket prices and regular confusion over which services they can be used on.
Economy
Trump fires new 50% tariff threat at EU, drawing stiff response
Washington, United States - President Donald Trump rekindled the US trade war on Friday, threatening to impose a 50 percent...
- If they come into effect, the new duties on Brussels would dramatically raise Washington's current baseline levy of 10 percent
- The US president has also introduced sector-specific measures on automobiles, steel and aluminum not produced in the United States
Business
Trump threatens Apple with a 25% tariff if iPhones aren’t made in US
Washington, United States -- US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple with a 25 percent tariff if the iPhones...
- Trump's sweeping tariffs on major US trading partners have roiled global markets and upended international commerce.
- Trump's comments Friday echo statements he made last week while on a trip to Qatar, urging Apple to bring iPhone production to US shores.
Bain identifies four priorities for sovereign wealth funds as assets approach $30 trillion
State-backed investors are expanding beyond traditional investment models, increasing exposure to alternatives, AI and direct deals while balancing returns with...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Oil prices gain, as equities extend record run higher
Oil prices have experienced choppy trading since the surprise US raid Saturday on Caracas that saw Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro...
Business
Global economy set for “sturdy growth” in 2026, MENA growth to outpace global economy
The Middle East and North Africa region is expected to outperform the global economy in 2026, with GDP projected to...
Economy
SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment
Tokyo, Japan -- Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after...
Business
Most Read
Economy
Prone to conflict, displacement, climate shocks, investing in cities is a strategy for global stability
Addressing fragility in cities is, therefore, not only a social imperative; it is also a crucial economic consideration. It is...
- Conflict, displacement and climate shocks converge in cities, threatening global stability
- Stable urban systems unlock private sector confidence, strengthen security and create shared prosperity
Economy
China says to launch digital currency action plan
Beijing, China -- China will on January 1 launch an "action plan" for boosting management and operations of its digital...
- The "action plan" will see banks pay interest on balances held by clients in digital yuan -- a move to incentivize broader adoption of the currency.
- The plan also includes a proposal to establish an international digital yuan operations centre in the eastern financial hub of Shanghai, the report said.
Economy
Web Summit Qatar 2026: Doha’s Bid to Become the Next Tech Hub
Early signals hint that Web Summit Qatar 2026 will be its biggest edition yet, with participation expected to outpace the...
- Qatar’s rising ambition to become a global tech hub, high digital adoption, and fast-growing startup support ecosystem has made it the summit’s natural destination
- GCO and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) have reinforced that ambition with a series of long-term national programs designed to attract entrepreneurs and global firms