Global Pulse

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  • Stage set for season-opening Dubai 2026 Para Athletics GP

    Stage set for season-opening Dubai 2026 Para Athletics GP

    Dubai has become the epicenter of elite para athletics as the 17th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships commences, marking the inaugural Grand Prix event of the 2026 season. Under the esteemed patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this prestigious competition brings together 500 elite athletes representing 56 nations at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds from February 10-13, 2026.

    The championship serves as a critical qualifying platform for major international events throughout the 2026 athletic calendar, including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in October. Athletes are competing to achieve minimum qualification standards that will secure their participation in these premier competitions.

    India has deployed its strongest contingent featuring 50 elite competitors, including reigning Paris 2024 Paralympic champions Sumit Antil (F64 javelin) and Navdeep (F41 javelin), alongside two-time Paris 2024 medalist Preeti Pal and Simran, bronze medalist in women’s 200m T12.

    European representation is highlighted by Belgium’s Maxime Carabin, a two-time Paris 2024 Paralympic champion and five-time world champion who secured three gold medals at the Kobe 2024 World Championships. Canada’s Austin Smeenk, gold medalist in men’s 800m T34 and bronze medalist in men’s 100m T34 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, adds further international star power to the competition.

    The host nation UAE fields 65 athletes, including several Paralympic medalists. Young standout Mohammed Youssef Othman, bronze medalist at the New Delhi World Championships, leads the home team’s track events. The women’s campaign features Rio 2016 medalists Sara Aljeneibi (women’s shot put F33), Noura Alktebi (women’s shot put F32), and Kobe 2024 world champion Maryam Alzeyoudi (women’s shot put F40).

    Othman expressed his aspirations ahead of the competition: ‘My preparations have been optimal for the new season. I aim to deliver a powerful performance at our home event and maintain momentum throughout the competitive season, with the Asian Para Games representing my primary objective.’

    The championship will be streamed live globally through the Dubai Club for People of Determination’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, ensuring worldwide accessibility to these elite athletic performances.

  • US stocks flirt with a record after the unemployment rate unexpectedly improves

    US stocks flirt with a record after the unemployment rate unexpectedly improves

    Wall Street witnessed a significant rally on Wednesday as major indices climbed toward record territory, propelled by unexpectedly robust employment figures that alleviated concerns about economic momentum. The S&P 500 advanced 0.5%, hovering near its all-time peak established late last month, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 222 points (0.4%) and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.5% during morning trading.

    The market upswing followed a Labor Department report revealing U.S. employers added 130,000 positions in the previous month—substantially exceeding economists’ projections of 75,000 jobs. This development helped counterbalance prior anxieties triggered by disappointing consumer spending data that had suggested potential economic stagnation.

    However, the economic landscape revealed complexities upon deeper examination. The report contained significant downward revisions indicating employers created merely 181,000 jobs throughout the entire previous year, dramatically lower than the initially reported 584,000. This represents the weakest annual job growth since 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions paralyzed economic activity.

    Sector performance reflected economic sensitivities, with energy and industrial stocks leading gains. Caterpillar surged 3.9% and Exxon Mobil climbed 2.4%, both companies whose profitability correlates closely with economic health.

    The session witnessed several notable decliners. Moderna plummeted 10.5% after the FDA declined to review its application for a novel mRNA-based flu vaccine. Robinhood Markets dropped 11% despite exceeding profit expectations, as revenue shortfalls and concerns about sustained cryptocurrency trading declines weighed on investor sentiment. Kraft Heinz fell 4.1% as CEO Steve Cahillane announced a pause in planned business separation plans alongside a $600 million strategic investment.

    Bond markets responded to the strengthened employment picture, with the 10-year Treasury yield rising to 4.17% and the more Fed-sensitive 2-year yield jumping to 3.51%. The data prompted traders to scale back expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, though markets still anticipate at least two reductions according to CME Group data.

    Internationally, stock indexes demonstrated broad strength across Asian and European markets, with South Korea’s Kospi gaining 1% and the UK’s FTSE 100 advancing 0.9%.

  • Father of US-based Hong Kong activist convicted under national security law

    Father of US-based Hong Kong activist convicted under national security law

    In a groundbreaking legal proceeding under Hong Kong’s domestic security legislation, a 69-year-old man was convicted Wednesday for attempting to access financial assets belonging to his daughter, a U.S.-based activist designated as an absconder by local authorities.

    Kwok Yin-sang became the first individual prosecuted under Article 23 legislation for allegedly trying to withdraw funds from an insurance policy under his daughter’s name. His daughter, Anna Kwok, serves as executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council and has been subject to an HK$1 million (approximately $127,900) bounty offered by Hong Kong authorities in 2023 for information leading to her arrest.

    The prosecution argued that Kwok knowingly attempted to handle assets of a designated absconder, despite his not guilty plea. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi determined that Kwok must have been aware of his daughter’s status when he sought to cancel the insurance policy originally purchased during her childhood.

    Defense attorney Steven Kwan contended there was no evidence indicating the funds were intended for transfer to Anna Kwok and requested a minimal 14-day imprisonment sentence. While the charge carries a maximum seven-year penalty, the case was heard in magistrates’ courts where sentences are capped at two years. Sentencing is scheduled for February 26.

    International human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the conviction as politically motivated. Spokesperson Joey Siu warned the verdict “sets a dangerous precedent, designed to terrify and silence others who continue to speak out about Hong Kong issues from overseas.”

    The case emerges within broader geopolitical tensions surrounding Hong Kong’s national security laws. United States officials previously sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials in 2025, alleging involvement in “transnational repression” through extraterritorial application of security laws. China responded with counter-sanctions against U.S. officials and NGO leaders.

    Both Chinese and Hong Kong governments maintain that the security laws are essential for maintaining stability in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The legislation followed massive anti-government protests in 2019 and has resulted in numerous activist arrests, silencing, or overseas exile.

  • UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian ‘threat to Arctic’

    UK doubles troops in Norway to counter Russian ‘threat to Arctic’

    In a significant strategic shift, the United Kingdom will double its military footprint in Norway over the next three years, elevating troop numbers from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 personnel. This decision comes amid growing NATO apprehension regarding Russia’s escalating military activities in the High North region.

    Defence Secretary John Healey characterized the move as a direct response to mounting security concerns, stating, ‘Demands on defence are rising and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have witnessed since the Cold War.’ The announcement follows observations of Russia reopening Cold War-era installations and substantially increasing its military presence throughout the Arctic sphere.

    The enhanced deployment forms part of the newly proposed ‘Arctic Sentry’ initiative championed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who recently conducted diplomatic visits to Norway. This security framework, inspired by existing NATO alliances including the Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry programs, aims to strengthen regional surveillance capabilities and collective defense mechanisms.

    Operational enhancements will feature prominently in upcoming multinational exercises. In March, 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos will participate in NATO’s Exercise Cold Response, a large-scale drill spanning Norway, Finland, and Sweden designed to test allied forces in extreme Arctic conditions. Subsequently, September will see the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force execute Operation Lion Protector, integrating air, land, and naval components from multiple European nations to practice critical infrastructure defense strategies across Norway, Iceland, and the Danish straits.

    These developments reflect deepening concerns among NATO members regarding Russia’s potential threat to subsea infrastructure, particularly underwater cables and pipelines. Tensions have remained elevated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting enhanced cooperative measures. Last year, the UK and Norway formalized a defensive pact specifically addressing undersea security, establishing a combined naval fleet to monitor Russian submarine activities.

    According to Ministry of Defence statistics, Russian submarine presence in UK waters has surged by 30% over the past two years, with current activity levels in the North Atlantic matching those recorded during the Cold War period. Defence Secretary Healey is scheduled to discuss these strategic proposals with NATO counterparts at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters on Thursday.

  • Britney Spears sells rights to entire music catalogue

    Britney Spears sells rights to entire music catalogue

    In a monumental transaction reshaping the music industry’s financial landscape, pop icon Britney Spears has transferred ownership of her complete music catalog to independent publishing powerhouse Primary Wave. The BBC reports this strategic acquisition, valued at approximately $200 million (£146 million), was formally executed on December 30th.

    This deal encompasses the entire spectrum of Spears’ legendary discography, featuring generational anthems like “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops!… I Did It Again,” “Toxic,” and “Gimme More.” The sale aligns with a growing trend among elite artists seeking to monetize their life’s work through catalog divestment.

    Primary Wave, founded two decades ago by industry veteran Lawrence Mestel following his acquisition of a significant stake in Nirvana’s catalog, has established itself as a major player in music rights management. The company’s portfolio already includes prestigious rights to estates of music legends Prince, Whitney Houston, and The Notorious B.I.G.

    This transaction follows Spears’ January 2024 declaration that she would “never return to the music industry,” with her final recording being a 2022 collaborative single with Sir Elton John. The artist’s catalog represents an extraordinary commercial legacy, with over 150 million records sold globally across nine studio albums since her 1999 debut.

    The catalog sale represents another significant chapter in Spears’ journey toward professional and personal autonomy following the November 2021 termination of her 13-year conservatorship. This legal arrangement had previously governed both her financial affairs and personal decisions. Her subsequent 2023 memoir, “The Woman in Me,” provided profound insights into her experiences during this period.

    Neither Primary Wave nor representatives for Spears have offered official comments regarding the transaction specifics, which remain undisclosed to the public. This movement of iconic music catalogs continues to transform industry economics, with recent high-profile deals involving Bruce Springsteen’s $500 million Sony agreement and Justin Bieber’s reported $200 million arrangement with Hipgnosis Songs Capital.

  • UAE lobbied pro-Israel groups to level antisemitism charges against Saudi Arabia

    UAE lobbied pro-Israel groups to level antisemitism charges against Saudi Arabia

    According to disclosures from current and former U.S. officials to Middle East Eye, the United Arab Emirates has attempted to enlist pro-Israel lobbying organizations in Washington to amplify its ongoing diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia. The effort represents a strategic maneuver by Abu Dhabi to capitalize on relationships forged through the 2021 Abraham Accords, which normalized UAE-Israel relations.

    The American Jewish Committee (AJC), a prominent pro-Israel group with significant Washington influence led by former Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, reportedly faced Emirati pressure to issue statements expressing concern about alleged antisemitic rhetoric emanating from Saudi Arabia. While AJC maintained public neutrality in the Gulf dispute, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) published a January statement criticizing what it described as ‘openly antisemitic dog whistles’ from Saudi voices opposing the Abraham Accords.

    This lobbying campaign occurs against the backdrop of deteriorating UAE-Saudi relations, once close allies whose partnership has fractured over conflicting geopolitical interests in Yemen, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. The rivalry has extended into social media warfare, with Saudi commentators accusing the UAE of regional destabilization while Emirati supporters label Saudi Arabia as harboring extremists.

    The diplomatic tensions complicate U.S.-brokered normalization efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which had advanced under both Trump and Biden administrations before being derailed by the Gaza conflict. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who previously entertained normalization talks, has since condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocidal and insisted on Palestinian statehood as a precondition for any diplomatic agreement.

  • India–Pakistan feud casts shadow over cricket’s Olympic ambitions

    India–Pakistan feud casts shadow over cricket’s Olympic ambitions

    Cricket’s anticipated return to the Olympic stage at Los Angeles 2028 faces significant challenges beyond the upcoming Games, as persistent geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan cast doubt on the sport’s long-term Olympic aspirations. The recent T20 World Cup impasse, which saw Pakistan initially boycott their marquee match against India, highlights deeper structural issues within cricket’s governance that could undermine its global expansion ambitions.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) successfully mediated a temporary resolution to the crisis through emergency talks with the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards. However, sports analysts characterize this solution as merely addressing symptoms rather than curing the underlying disease of political interference in sporting decisions.

    Veteran Indian journalist Chander Shekhar Luthra emphasizes that substantial structural reforms within the ICC are imperative if cricket genuinely seeks permanent Olympic inclusion. ‘The governing body must liberate itself from political pressures exerted by powerful cricket boards, particularly the Indian board which operates under political compulsions,’ Luthra stated.

    The timing of these tensions carries additional significance as India contemplates bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games. Pakistani commentator Nauman Niaz warns that the International Olympic Committee’s commitment to neutrality and impartiality might view recent politicization incidents unfavorably. ‘The IOC operates very differently from cricket’s governing bodies,’ Niaz noted. ‘As India prepares an Olympic bid, such incidents will inevitably come under scrutiny.’

    Despite these challenges, both commentators acknowledge India’s remarkable transformation as a sporting nation and its deserving credentials to host the Olympics. The paradox remains that the same nation driving cricket’s commercial success might inadvertently hinder its Olympic aspirations through political interventions that contradict the Olympic movement’s fundamental principles.

  • UAE expresses solidarity with Morocco over deadly floods

    UAE expresses solidarity with Morocco over deadly floods

    The United Arab Emirates has formally expressed its profound condolences and unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco following catastrophic flooding that has ravaged multiple regions. Through an official declaration from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), the Emirates conveyed heartfelt sympathies to both the bereaved families and the Moroccan nation, while extending wishes for the rapid recovery of all injured individuals.

    The devastating weather event has claimed at least four lives, including a two-year-old child, with an additional individual reported missing. Moroccan authorities confirmed these casualties occurred when a vehicle was unexpectedly engulfed by sudden torrents near Tetouan. Rescue operations successfully recovered the victims’ bodies between Saturday night and Sunday morning, with ongoing search efforts for the missing person.

    This natural disaster has prompted one of the largest emergency responses in recent Moroccan history, with official reports indicating the evacuation of approximately 150,000 residents since the flooding commenced. Northwestern provinces have endured particularly severe rainfall over the past week, exacerbating the already critical situation.

    This tragedy echoes previous weather-related disasters in the region, notably the December flooding in Safi that resulted in 37 fatalities—Morocco’s most deadly climate event in the past ten years. The current meteorological crisis extends beyond Moroccan borders, with neighboring Algeria reporting two flood-related deaths including a child, and Tunisia experiencing at least five casualties during its heaviest rainfall in seventy years.

    Further north, Iberian nations Portugal and Spain have simultaneously battled severe storms and torrential rains, suggesting a broader regional weather pattern affecting Northwestern Africa and Southern Europe. The interconnected nature of these events highlights growing concerns about climate volatility in the Mediterranean region.

  • US will have to do ‘something very tough’ if no deal reached with Iran, says Trump

    US will have to do ‘something very tough’ if no deal reached with Iran, says Trump

    President Donald Trump has issued a grave ultimatum to Iran regarding ongoing nuclear negotiations, warning that the United States will be compelled to take “something very tough” should diplomatic efforts collapse. In an exclusive interview with Israel’s Channel 12 published Tuesday, the president presented a binary choice between reaching a comprehensive agreement or facing severe consequences.

    The statement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East as multiple news outlets, including Axios and Israel’s Channel 12, report the administration is actively considering military reinforcement options. Most notably, deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the region is under serious consideration, signaling potential preparation for heightened confrontation.

    These developments occur against a complex backdrop of longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and more recent international condemnation of Tehran’s crackdown on domestic protests. The simultaneous addressing of both security concerns and human rights issues represents a multifaceted challenge to diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran.

    The president’s comments suggest a critical juncture in negotiations, implying that diplomatic patience is wearing thin while military options are being actively contemplated. This strategic positioning indicates a potential shift from multilateral engagement toward unilateral action should current talks fail to produce acceptable terms.

  • Empower posts record Dh1 billion profit as capacity, customer base surge in 2025

    Empower posts record Dh1 billion profit as capacity, customer base surge in 2025

    Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has announced unprecedented financial achievements for the fiscal year 2025, cementing its position as the global leader in district cooling services. The Dubai-based powerhouse reported a remarkable 10.5% surge in net profit, reaching Dh1.004 billion, while revenue grew by 4.9% to Dh3.419 billion, establishing new benchmarks in the industry.

    The company’s exceptional performance was fueled by strategic network expansion and substantial customer growth, with operational metrics reaching historic highs. Connected capacity soared to 1.7 million refrigeration tonnes, while contracted capacity approached the 2 million RT milestone through 186 new contracts secured during the year. Empower’s portfolio now encompasses 1,747 buildings across Dubai, with its distribution network extending beyond 430 kilometers of infrastructure.

    Financial indicators demonstrated robust health across all parameters. EBITDA climbed 6.2% to Dh1.649 billion, while pre-tax profit mirrored the net profit growth at 10.5%, reaching Dh1.103 billion. The company distributed Dh875 million in dividends to shareholders through equal payments in April and October.

    CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar attributed this success to the company’s resilient business model and strategic long-term vision. ‘Our record-breaking performance underscores the scalability of our operations and the effectiveness of our disciplined expansion approach,’ he stated. ‘We’ve simultaneously advanced our digital transformation initiatives while supporting Dubai’s sustainability objectives.’

    Customer engagement reached new heights with 156,000 accounts, representing a 26% increase in new registrations. Digital transformation efforts yielded significant results, with 979,051 online bill-payment transactions processed—a 10% increase from 2024—and 46,876 No Objection Certificate applications approved through digital channels.

    The company’s expansion included major project wins such as The Island development with Wasl (23,853 RT), Uptown Dubai’s next phase with DMCC (24,675 RT), Palm Gateway (9,470 RT), and Al Habtoor Tower’s first phase (7,200 RT). Operational milestones included the commissioning of the Deira Waterfront plant (39,000 RT) and progress on facilities in Al Sufouh 2, Jumeirah Village, and Dubai Science Park.

    Recognition came through multiple international awards at IDEA 2025, LEED Gold certification for the DLRC plant, and ESG accolades from Dubai Chamber and MAJRA, reinforcing Empower’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development practices.