Author: Sam Allcock

Emirates is expanding the reach of its Premium Economy and refreshed Business Class cabins, with new aircraft deployments across Amman, Mumbai, Muscat and Bahrain later this year. The move will see the Dubai-based carrier introduce more of its next-generation Airbus A350s and retrofitted Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s on services to the four cities, providing passengers with greater access to the airline’s upgraded cabin products. Enhanced fleet rolloutFrom 26 October 2025, flight EK903/904 to Amman will operate with a four-class Airbus A380 fitted with refreshed interiors, including Premium Economy. Both daily services to the Jordanian capital will soon feature Emirates’…

Drydocks World, part of Dubai-based DP World, has secured a landmark Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to deliver the world’s largest Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility. The deal was awarded by AMIGO LNG, a joint venture between Texas-based Epcilon LNG LLC and Singapore’s LNG Alliance Pte Ltd. The project is set to transform Mexico’s role in the global LNG market by creating a major new export hub on the Pacific coast. Record-breaking projectThe development will include the conversion of two LNG carriers into Floating Storage Units (FSUs) and the construction of two newbuild FLNG barges at Drydocks World’s…

The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced an exclusive package for travellers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), aiming to attract families, couples, and groups looking for an island escape before the year ends. The promotion, available for bookings until 23 December 2025, includes complimentary Half Board dining, Club InterContinental privileges, and free stays for children. Extended visits bring added benefits, such as resort credits and discounted seaplane transfers, making the offer particularly attractive for National Day holidays and winter getaways. Luxury with convenienceLocated on the Raa Atoll, the resort is accessible via a short international flight followed by a…

Doha is set to host a landmark international gathering on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics, bringing together leading voices from academia, technology, and policy. The two-day conference, organised by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), will take place at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) from 28–29 September 2025. The event, titled AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions, is expected to serve as a crucial forum for examining how AI is reshaping societies and how ethical frameworks rooted in diverse global values can guide its development. Organisers say the gathering will feature prominent academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and…

Three people have died and a fourth is in critical condition after a helicopter crashed during a flying lesson on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire Police have confirmed. Emergency services were called to the crash site on Monday afternoon, where they found the wreckage of the aircraft belonging to Northumbria Helicopters. The operator said the helicopter was carrying four people at the time of the incident, all of whom were on board for an instructional flight. Police said efforts are ongoing to contact the families of those involved. “At this time we are unable to provide further information about the…

The Empire State Building (ESB) staged a dazzling Music-to-Light Spectacular on Thursday night (22 August) to celebrate the global success of Netflix’s animated film KPOP DEMON HUNTERS. The golden light show, choreographed to the film’s hit single Golden, marked the start of what was billed as the film’s “Golden Weekend” in New York City. Earlier in the day, cast members Arden Cho, May Hong, and singer REI AMI joined the iconic tower’s lighting ceremony. The trio flipped the symbolic switch to set the building aglow and later toured the landmark’s observatory, one of the city’s most visited attractions. Dan Rogoski,…

Holo, a fintech platform reinventing how people purchase homes in the United Arab Emirates, has raised $22 million in one of the largest Series A funding rounds in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) this year. The round was led by Saudi Arabia’s venture capital firm Impact46, with additional backing from Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company, alongside Rua Growth Fund, anb seed, MoreThan Capital, and returning investors Salica Oryx Fund and Dubai Future District Fund. The investment marks a major milestone for the regional proptech sector, underscoring a shift toward digital-first home ownership solutions. Basmah AlSinaidi, Managing Partner at…

Global energy technology company SLB has announced that its joint venture, OneSubsea™, has been awarded a major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Norwegian energy giant Equinor for the Fram Sør development, located offshore Norway. The contract marks a historic step for the industry as it involves the delivery of the world’s first large-scale all-electric subsea production system (SPS). The project will see the installation of 12 wells and four subsea templates, pioneering a new approach to subsea operations that eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid supplied by the host platform. The deal follows a year-long front-end engineering design…

Google has released its first detailed technical report on how artificial intelligence (AI) queries impact the environment, offering unprecedented transparency about the hidden costs of its Gemini app. The report, published this week, breaks down the energy, carbon, and water footprint of AI queries and the infrastructure that supports them. Experts are calling it a landmark step, as no major technology company has previously disclosed such granular information. According to Google, a single Gemini text prompt consumes around 0.24 watt-hours of electricity—comparable to running a microwave for one second or watching nine seconds of television. Each query produces 0.03 grams…

Students and staff at the University of South Carolina in Columbia were thrown into panic on Wednesday evening after a black umbrella was mistaken for a firearm, prompting an active shooter alert across campus. The incident began shortly after 6:30 p.m. when university officials reported what they believed to be an armed individual near the Thomas Cooper Library, one of the campus’s busiest locations. Authorities urged people to shelter in place or evacuate immediately while police searched the grounds. The library was closed during the investigation, and emergency alerts were sent across the university community. For nearly an hour, fears…