Author: Sam Allcock

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…

Russian streaming service Start has premiered Feofan, the country’s first comedy series featuring characters created entirely by artificial intelligence. The release marks a milestone in the growing overlap between technology and entertainment. The show, unveiled at the “New Season” streaming festival in Sochi from 15–20 September, began streaming on Start on 17 September. Aimed at adult audiences, each episode runs under ten minutes and satirises aspects of modern culture – from celebrity obsessions to digital lifestyles. Old ways vs. modern life The story centres on Feofan, a young man from St Petersburg who abandons urban life to build a community…

Gold prices have surged to new record highs both globally and in Jordan, driven by continued demand for safe-haven assets amid global market uncertainty. According to CNN Business, gold reached an unprecedented $3,716.13 per ounce in instant transactions on Monday, marking the highest level ever recorded. Spot silver also gained, rising 1% to $43.49 per ounce, approaching a 14-year high. Jordan market follows global trend In Jordan, the General Syndicate of Owners of Trade and Jewelry Shops confirmed that local gold prices climbed to their highest point in history on Monday. Prices increased by 70 piasters per gram, reflecting global…

Al Masaood Automobiles, the authorised distributor of Nissan in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Al Dhafra Region, has unveiled a new campaign aimed at making car ownership more accessible and stress-free for customers. The initiative includes 0% finance across a range of Nissan’s most popular models, with monthly instalments starting from just AED 888. Models featured in the campaign include the Magnite, Altima, X-Trail, Pathfinder, X-Terra, KICKS, and the iconic Nissan Z. To bolster customer confidence, the offer is backed by extended warranty and roadside assistance packages. Most models come with five years of coverage, while the Magnite offer…