Author: Sam Allcock

Chefs across the world are rushing to buy a new gadget that promises to change the way food is prepared: the C-200 ultrasonic chef’s knife, launched by Seattle-based startup Seattle Ultrasonics. Unlike traditional knives, the C-200 incorporates vibration technology that makes chopping, slicing and dicing easier and faster. With the push of a button, the knife’s blade vibrates 40,000 times per second. These microscopic ultrasonic movements reduce friction, creating a “nonstick effect” that prevents food from clinging to the blade. According to the company, the knife requires 50% less force to cut through even the densest ingredients, making the process…

The 17th edition of Abu Dhabi Art, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will take place from 19 to 23 November 2025 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The fair has revealed the artists selected for its Beyond Emerging Artists (BEA) 2025 programme: Alla Abdunabi, Salmah Almansoori, and Maktoum Al Maktoum. Their new commissions, inspired by Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be curated and mentored by internationally acclaimed artist Issam Kourbaj. The three artists bring diverse practices: Abdunabi explores the afterlives of objects, Almansoori reflects on disappearing spaces and memory, and Al Maktoum constructs…

The BRICS Urban Future Forum “Cloud City” has concluded in Moscow, drawing more than 13,000 visitors from 42 countries to debate the role of technology in tomorrow’s megacities. Held on 17–18 September, the third edition of the event brought together 460 speakers and delegates — including urbanists, futurists, architects, and senior policymakers. With robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as key themes, discussions focused on how digital innovation can make cities smarter, more resilient, and more human-centred. Among the international figures in attendance were Ayesha Bin Bishr, global smart city expert and former head of Dubai’s Digital Development Agency, and Sultan…

Asia’s largest public architecture festival, the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (SBAU), opens this month with a bold call to make cities “Radically More Human”. Running from 26 September to 18 November, the 54-day event transforms venues across the South Korean capital, including Songhyeon Green Plaza and the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture. Curated by acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the Biennale challenges the dominance of purely functional or profit-driven urban design. At its core stands the striking “Humanise Wall”, a four-storey, 90-metre-long installation built from 1,428 steel tiles etched with ideas from citizens, scientists and designers.…

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will launch a dedicated ATM Travel Tech event at its 2026 edition, running from 4–7 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, in response to soaring global demand for innovation in the travel sector. Previously a fast-growing section within ATM, Travel Tech will expand into two halls and host more than 180 exhibitors from 30 countries, including industry leaders Sabre, Amadeus, Travelport, WebBeds and HBX Group, alongside hundreds of start-ups focused on AI, automation, fintech and mobility. Anchored in ATM 2026’s theme, “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology”, the new event will spotlight AI-powered…

Electric vehicle maker Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (FFAI) will take a majority stake in Qualigen Therapeutics (QLGN) as part of a $41m private investment in public equity (PIPE) aimed at driving the biotech firm’s pivot to crypto and Web3. The deal, announced jointly by the companies, will see Faraday Future invest $30m at $2.246 per share, giving it 55% ownership of QLGN’s outstanding common stock. Founder and Global Co-CEO YT Jia will personally commit an additional $4m, equal to a 7% stake, and has agreed to a two-year lock-up period. On completion, QLGN is expected to rebrand as CXC10,…

More than 106,000 people flocked to the Moskino Film Factory between 29 August and 14 September for Portal 2030–2050, billed as the world’s largest electronic music festival. The free event featured 110 DJs from 13 countries, including Willy William, Edward Maya, Yves Larock, Burak Yeter, Sak Noel, Legroni, and Alex Gaudino. Over 240 hours of music played across three stages, alongside 150 cultural and digital art activities. Italian DJ Alex Gaudino premiered his new single Funky Beat on 14 September in collaboration with Dynoro and Chuck D of Public Enemy, coinciding with Moscow City Day celebrations. A highlight was the…

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Sheikh, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, has died at the age of 81, local media reported on Tuesday. The Saudi Royal Court confirmed his passing in a statement issued on September 23. It said funeral prayers for the late Grand Mufti would take place after the afternoon prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. King Salman bin Abdulaziz also ordered that funeral prayers be held simultaneously at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and mosques across the Kingdom. Sheikh…

Ousmane Dembele has been crowned Ballon d’Or winner for 2025, capping off a stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain. But the outcome has drawn criticism, with some questioning whether Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal was unfairly overlooked. Yamal, who finished second after a breakout campaign with Barcelona, received strong backing from his father, Mounir Nasraoui, who told El Chiringuito that “something very strange” had happened. “I wouldn’t call it a robbery, but it feels like a moral injustice. For me, Lamine is by far the best player in the world, without rival,” he said. France Football defends vote Responding to the criticism,…

Barely a month after its launch, Apple’s latest iPhone 17 series is facing user complaints over scratch resistance, according to a report by Bloomberg. Customers noted that display models at Apple Stores showed visible scratches within hours of use, particularly on the “Deep Blue” iPhone 17 Pro and “Space Black” iPhone Air. Videos circulating on social media highlight back-glass marks caused by the MagSafe charger, along with peeling around the camera edges. Tech creator Zach Nelson added to concerns by conducting scratch tests with blades, keys and coins, revealing similar issues. Design trade-offs Experts have linked the problem to Apple’s…