Building a secure future: Key takeaways from WEF’s Dubai meetings
The Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, held jointly with the Global Future Councils, focused on strengthening global cooperation to enhance digital...
Geostrategy
Nobel economist warns of AI dangers amid “amazing possibilities”
Washington, United States - A winner of this year’s Nobel prize in economics warned Monday that artificial intelligence offers "amazing...
Economy
Economy
Global oil supply hit record high in August: IEA
Paris, France -- Global oil supply hit a record high in August as OPEC+ and other countries ramped up production,...
- Eight key members of OPEC+ group, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, have been gradually increasing production since April after restricting output in recent years.
- Non-OPEC+ nations have also been raising their output, with the IEA saying production from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Guyana and Argentina was "at or near all-time highs".
Business
Stock markets strike records despite geopolitical unrest
Gains for oil prices were relatively modest, while gas futures were unmoved after Israel's strikes Tuesday against Hamas in gas-rich...
- Wall Street had notched fresh highs Tuesday as markets digested weak US jobs data that added to expectations that the Fed will lower US interest rates at their next meeting.
- Tokyo's stock market ended at an all-time high, as did Seoul where traders were hopeful the government will not implement plans to lower the capital gains tax threshold for stocks.
Geostrategy
Europe hyperloop test hits new speed record in Dutch trial
The Hague, Netherlands -- A Dutch tech startup said Wednesday it had set a European speed record for its futuristic...
- Hardt Hyperloop said its vehicle had reached 85 kph at the 420 meter European Hyperloop Center test track in the Netherlands and had carried out a complex lane switching test.
- It said the lane switching maneuver -- essential for networked routes -- showed there were no technical barriers to operating at aircraft-like speeds.
Science
MBZUAI, G42 launch K2 Think: Leading open-source system for advanced AI reasoning
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Institute of Foundation Models at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and G42...
- K2 Think embodies a new approach to building smarter, more efficient AI, as with just 32 billion parameters, it outperforms flagship reasoning models that are 20X larger.
- This breakthrough in parameter efficiency makes K2 Think a powerful alternative for advanced reasoning, redefining what is possible with compact architectures
Business
Stocks climb eyeing US rate cut, political turbulence
A steep downward revision to US job creation cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve would begin lowering its benchmark rate...
- US employment growth is likely to be revised down by 911,000 for the 12 months ending in March, official data showed.
- Investors are now looking to consumer inflation data coming Thursday, since a hot reading could keep the Fed from cutting further as it looks to curb price increases.
Economy
Saudi launches Damascus area reconstruction project
Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday humanitarian projects for Syria including the removal of wartime rubble around Damascus, weeks after inking...
- The oil-rich Gulf kingdom has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which came to power after an Islamist-led offensive toppled longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad
- Other agreements inked on Sunday would see Riyadh support the reconstruction of 34 schools in Syria's Aleppo, Idlib and Homs provinces
Geostrategy
Key OPEC+ members to boost oil production again
Oil ministers in the V8 grouping -- comprising Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and...
- Those countries had already increased production by 2.2 million bpd in recent months.
- They said that the new incoming cycle could see up to an extra 1.65 million bpd eventually coming onto the market.
Science
AI giant Anthropic to pay $1.5 bn over pirated books
San Francisco, United States - Anthropic will pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a US class action lawsuit over...
- "This landmark settlement far surpasses any other known copyright recovery," said plaintiffs' attorney Justin Nelson. "It is the first of its kind in the AI era."
- San Francisco-based Anthropic announced this week that it raised $13 billion in a funding round valuing the AI startup at $183 billion
Science
Norway experiments with electric plane in real-life test
Oslo, Norway -- An electric plane took to the skies between the Norwegian airports Stavanger and Bergen on Thursday, simulating...
- The small aircraft -- an Alia built by US aircraft manufacturer Beta -- flew the 160 kilometers in a test run by the Norwegian affiliate of the transport company Bristow.
- The flight took 55 minutes and simulated a cargo flight route in southeastern Norway.
Business
Global bond selloff spreads to Japan, gold hits record high
Wall Street stocks opened mostly higher, with shares in Google parent-company Alphabet shooting up nearly seven percent after winning a...
- Yields on 30-year Japanese government bonds rose to an all-time high of 3.29 percent on Wednesday, while 20-year yields reached their highest since 1999.
- The selloff in Japanese debt mirrors widespread moves in the United States and Europe, with investors spooked over substantial piles of government debt globally.
Building a secure future: Key takeaways from WEF’s Dubai meetings
The Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, held jointly with the Global Future Councils, focused on strengthening global cooperation to enhance digital...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
China’s chip challenge: the race to match US tech
Beijing, China - China's push to develop top-end artificial intelligence microchips is gaining momentum, but analysts say it will struggle...
Economy
Vietnam defies US tariffs with 8.2% growth in third quarter
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnam recorded economic growth of 8.2 percent in the third quarter, among the highest increases in more...
Economy
AI in an ‘industrial bubble’ but will benefit society: Bezos
Turin, Italy - Artificial intelligence technology is in an "industrial bubble," Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told a tech conference in...
Economy
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Business
Amazon adds AI muscle to connected home lineup
New York, United States - Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest generation of connected products, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities...
- Nearly 20 years after the launch of the Kindle e-reader, the Seattle-based online retail giant now offers a family of connected devices
- The company has already made a major move into AI enhancements with the February launch of Alexa+, an upgraded version of the Alexa voice assistant
Geostrategy
Microsoft trims service to Israel over Gaza surveillance
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Thursday said it cut an Israeli defense unit's access to some cloud services...
- Microsoft reviewed the decision with the Israel Ministry of Defense along with steps the tech firm is taking to ensure compliance
- The move followed a two-month Microsoft probe into a Guardian report that the Israeli Defense Force used Azure to store phone call data from surveillance in Gaza and the West Bank
Economy
Trump announces steep new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, furniture, reviving trade war
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday punishing tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture, reviving his global...
- The announcement is the harshest trade policy by the president since last April's shock unveiling of reciprocal tariffs on virtually every US trading partner across the globe
- Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a so-called Section 232 probe into imports of trucks to "determine the effects of national security."