Author: Editorial team
TOKYO, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — The Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided Friday to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 1.0 percent, while lowering its inflation outlook for the current fiscal year. Following a board meeting, the BOJ decided by an 8-1 vote to maintain its uncollateralised overnight call rate at 1.0 percent. Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — Investcorp Capital (ICAP) on Friday reported net profit of US$44 million for the fiscal year ended 30th June 2026 (FY26), compared with $81 million in 2025, and gross operating income of $94 million compared with $124 million in 2025. Performance was shaped by the timing of realisations across global private markets and the associated impact on asset valuations and by higher financing costs following a precautionary drawdown under the company’s revolving credit facility as a surplus liquidity buffer. FY26 performance was underpinned by strong cash-generation from the core portfolio, with $1.3 billion of…
OpenAI and Anthropic staff are reportedly circulating an open letter urging the U.S. government to back an international AI framework. This document has been deliberately designed to pace the development of advanced AI models. Bloomberg reported the petition, which is also being distributed among workers at Google DeepMind, warns rapid progress in automating AI research poses significant risks which could soon outpace human understanding and control. The letter calls on the U.S. government to support global technical and governance tools capable of regulating the speed at which frontier AI systems are built and deployed. Sources told the news outlet the…
ABU DHABI, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — Aldar on Friday announced it has generated AED1.5 billion during the launch of “The Canopies”, a six-building apartment community at Yas Point, the company’s new waterfront destination on the northern shore of Yas Island. The strong sales performance reflects sustained demand for homes on Yas Island and the continued momentum of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market. First-time Aldar buyers accounted for 84 percent of Aldar’s total customers attracted by The Canopies’ waterfront setting, park-centred design, and access to Yas Island’s wider lifestyle and entertainment offering. Forty percent of buyers were UAE nationals, while…
VOX Cinemas has teamed up with Dubai Economy and Tourism to launch Emirati Chefs x VOX, a limited-time dining experience that brings some of the UAE’s most exciting homegrown culinary talent to THEATRE by VOX Cinemas. Available from 29 July, the collaboration invites moviegoers to enjoy an exclusive menu inspired by Emirati flavours before settling in for the latest blockbuster. Designed to elevate the premium cinema experience, the initiative combines fine dining with world-class entertainment, proving that a trip to the movies can be about much more than popcorn. The specially curated menu features three signature dishes created by renowned…
ABU DHABI, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the 2026 Ju-Jitsu World Championship will take place in Abu Dhabi, from 1st to 9th August at Mubadala Arena. Organised by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the championship will bring together more than 1,500 athletes from around the world. The event cements the UAE as a global leader in jiu-jitsu and a centre for hosting world-class international sporting events.…
ABU DHABI, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — EMSTEEL, one of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, on Friday reported revenues of AED2.4 billion for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 11 percent compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The group reported EBITDA of AED457 million for the second quarter of 2026, representing a 67 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase. EBITDA margin expanded to 19.1 percent, compared to 12.8 percent in Q2 2025. Net profit for the period amounted to AED262 million, reflecting a 157 percent YoY increase. EMSTEEL’s Steel division…
ABU DHABI, 31st July, 2026 (WAM) — The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the renewed Iranian hostile attack targeting the brotherly State of Kuwait with drones. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Kuwait and a threat to its security and stability. The Ministry expressed the UAE’s full solidarity with the State of Kuwait and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding its security and stability. Source: Emirates News Agency
Cisco recently introduced Antares, a family of small language AI models (SLMs) purpose-built to tackle one of the most difficult and time-consuming challenges in cybersecurity: finding hidden security flaws within software codebases, on-premises, without externalising organisations’ data. As organisations race to secure their digital infrastructure, finding vulnerabilities quickly is critical. However, using general-purpose AI to scan code can be expensive and often requires sending sensitive, proprietary source code to the cloud, representing a major hurdle for organisations with strict privacy and compliance requirements. To help address this, Cisco has introduced Antares. These models are compact, cost-effective, and capable of running…
In the world of luxury watches, collaborations have become almost routine. Few, however, feel as natural as the partnership between Breitling and Aston Martin. Long before the two brands officially came together, they had been telling remarkably similar stories — of engineering shaped by craftsmanship, of performance tempered by elegance, and of designs that have aged with uncommon grace. That connection can be traced back to the 1960s. Breitling’s unconventional Top Time chronograph appeared on Sean Connery’s wrist in Thunderball, while the Aston Martin DB5 was fast becoming one of cinema’s most enduring automotive icons. They shared the screen for…