Middle East conflict may push 30 million into poverty: UNDP
According to a new UNDP policy brief, the impact is most severe in countries directly affected by the fighting and...Geostrategy
Financial frauds cost global economy over $442bn in 2025: INTERPOL
AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. “Agentic AI” systems can autonomously plan and execute complete fraud...Economy Geostrategy
The shift from innovative to native: Unlocking where real AI value lies
There are, of course, technical hurdles to overcome, too, one of which is modernizing legacy systems. Many enterprises still operate...
Meta, YouTube face trial over children harm
Opening statements in the first trial began in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram parent company Meta and Google’s...The case may influence thousands of lawsuits alleging social media features harmed young users’ mental health and wellbeing.
Meta and YouTube have denied the allegations, saying they have implemented tools and policies aimed at improving safety for younger users.
Bapco Energies declares force majeure on operations
Manama, Bahrain --- Bapco Energies BSC (Closed), Bahrain’s integrated energy company, announced force majeure on its group operations on Monday.The...The company said the move follows the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and a recent attack on its refinery complex.
Bapco Energies said all local market needs remain fully secured through proactive plans to ensure the continuity of supplies and meet domestic demand without disruption.
US assets outperform as geopolitical shock reshapes markets
The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward...Before hostilities erupted, global positioning had leaned heavily toward non-US outperformance
Emerging markets, Europe and parts of Asia had been enjoying one of their strongest relative runs against US assets in years
OpenAI faces backlash over Pentagon AI deal
OpenAI is facing online backlash after signing a deal with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its AI...The controversy has also boosted rival AI platform Claude, developed by Anthropic, which recently overtook ChatGPT as the top AI app
Critics warn that the Pentagon partnership could allow AI technology to be used for surveillance or military purposes
US, Russia to appoint negotiators for Ukraine talks; Kyiv protests exclusion, Europe awaits role
Washington noted European nations would have to have a seat at the negotiating table "at some point", following the first...Some European leaders, alarmed by President Donald Trump's overhaul of US policy on Russia, fear Washington will make serious concessions to Moscow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed his nation's exclusion from the Riyadh gathering, which lasted for more than four hours, saying talks should involve European nations
More than one million Syrians return to their homes: United Nations
Geneva, Switzerland -- More than one million people have returned to their homes in Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad,...The returnees include 280,000 Syrian refugees and more than 800,000 people displaced inside the country.
Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions from their homes.
Israel army pulls out of Lebanon border villages, holds five positions: source
Israel's army has pulled out of southern Lebanese villages but remains in five positions as a deadline for the withdrawal...Authorities estimate reconstruction costs in Lebanon's South could reach more than US$10 billion
More than 100,000 remain internally displaced
Netanyahu commits to Trump’s Gaza plan as Rubio seeks Arab backing in Saudi talks
In a statement on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "committed to US President Trump's plan for...Arriving in the kingdom after talks in Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio - on his first visit to the Middle East - met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
A Saudi source had earlier told AFP that Riyadh would host a regional summit later this week "to discuss Arab alternatives" to President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza
Saudi Arabia’s sports fund invests in DAZN streaming service
Paris, France - Saudi Arabian sports investment fund SURJ, linked to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, has acquired a minority stake...SURJ, originally named SRJ, was established in August 2024 by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) "to invest in acquiring and creating new sports events
SURJ and DAZN will work closely to establish DAZN MENA, a joint venture that will unlock new broadcasting opportunities for Saudi Arabia's growing sports sector
