Global Pulse

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  • Abu Dhabi rents surge 14% as demand from expats outpaces housing supply

    Abu Dhabi rents surge 14% as demand from expats outpaces housing supply

    Abu Dhabi’s residential rental market is experiencing significant upward momentum, with apartment rents surging 14.2% year-on-year in Q3 2025 according to Cavendish Maxwell research. This substantial growth stems from a perfect storm of demographic expansion and supply limitations that continue to reshape the capital’s real estate landscape.

    The driving forces behind this rental escalation include robust population growth, particularly among expatriates and the expanding workforce, creating unprecedented demand for housing. Despite new apartment supply entering the market throughout the year, exceptionally high absorption rates have maintained critically low vacancy levels, sustaining upward pressure on rental prices across the emirate.

    Market analysis reveals a distinct performance divergence between property types. Apartments significantly outpaced villas in rental growth, recording a 12.8% annual increase compared to villa rents which grew at a more moderate 5.6% pace. According to Haider Tuaima, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Research at ValuStrat, rental values demonstrated notable strength with the rental index advancing 2.3% quarterly and 9.3% annually.

    The supply pipeline presents a complex picture. Developers are projected to deliver approximately 8,000 new residential units by end-2025, with an additional 12,800 anticipated in 2026. However, industry experts caution that actual deliveries frequently fall short of initial projections. Andrew Laver, Associate Director at Cavendish Maxwell Abu Dhabi, notes that ‘based on recent handover trends, we could see fewer-than-planned properties being delivered in the next couple of years.’ This staggered delivery approach, historically typical for Abu Dhabi, allows gradual market absorption and prevents sudden stock increases.

    The sales market mirrored rental sector strength, with Q3 2025 recording robust transaction volumes exceeding 6,400 residential unit sales totaling Dh20.5 billion. Off-plan purchases dominated the market, accounting for Dh16.3 billion of total sales value. Market analysts anticipate both sales and rental prices will continue their upward trajectory in the near term, though growth rates will vary across locations as new supply enters specific market segments.

  • Brazilian police crack down on $4.8B tax evasion and money laundering scheme

    Brazilian police crack down on $4.8B tax evasion and money laundering scheme

    SAO PAULO — Brazilian authorities have initiated a sweeping law enforcement operation targeting a sophisticated financial crime network within the nation’s fuel industry. The operation, launched Thursday, represents one of the most significant actions against organized financial crime in recent years.

    Federal police executed 126 search and seizure warrants across five Brazilian states, targeting individuals and corporate entities allegedly involved in a massive tax evasion and money laundering scheme. According to Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service, the organization under investigation constitutes the country’s largest tax debtor, with outstanding liabilities exceeding 26 billion reais (approximately $4.8 billion).

    The criminal network employed a complex web of domestic companies, investment vehicles, and offshore entities to conceal illicit profits. While officials have not publicly identified specific targets, local media reports indicate the investigation centers around Grupo Fit, a prominent fuel refinery conglomerate. The company has not responded to media inquiries regarding the operation.

    Finance Minister Fernando Haddad characterized Thursday’s actions as a continuation of recent efforts to dismantle criminal elements within Brazil’s fuel supply chain. This latest operation follows August revelations where authorities identified 40 fuel-sector investment funds allegedly used to hide assets for members of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Brazil’s most powerful organized crime syndicate.

    Investigators have uncovered a sophisticated capital flight pattern involving U.S.-based entities. Federal authorities identified more than 15 offshore operations in the United States that funneled approximately 1 billion reais ($186 million) back to Brazil for purchasing equity stakes and real estate assets.

    Minister Haddad specifically highlighted Delaware as a jurisdiction exploited for money-laundering operations, describing it as ‘a tax haven in the United States’ facilitating ‘a serious international triangulation scheme.’ One recent transaction involved 1.2 billion reais ($223 million) directed to funds in the American state.

    The scheme operated through loans issued to these offshore funds—suspected to be never intended for repayment—with the money subsequently returning to Brazil as ostensibly legitimate investments. Haddad emphasized that ‘the money sent abroad is not legitimate’ and represents illicit funds being laundered through the financial system.

    Amid ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, Minister Haddad has committed to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to pursue enhanced international cooperation with American authorities against organized crime and money laundering networks.

  • Over 20,000 from home and abroad take part in first sci-tech intl month

    Over 20,000 from home and abroad take part in first sci-tech intl month

    The inaugural International Month of Science and Technology, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology, has successfully concluded, marking a significant milestone in global scientific collaboration. The event, which ran throughout November 2025, brought together over 20,000 experts from more than 110 countries and regions, fostering a platform for cross-border, cross-disciplinary, and cross-cultural exchange. Zhang Bin, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the association, emphasized the event’s alignment with the principles of building a shared future for humanity and advancing global initiatives. Over 60 activities were conducted, focusing on strategic emerging industries, advanced manufacturing, digital and information communication technologies, energy and materials, ecology, and space. The event yielded substantial outcomes, including the establishment of specialized organizations, the development of industry standards, and the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements. This landmark initiative has set a new benchmark for international scientific cooperation, paving the way for future advancements in technology and innovation.

  • Nigeria’s president declares emergency and beefs up forces following abductions

    Nigeria’s president declares emergency and beefs up forces following abductions

    LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to escalating security crises marked by mass abductions of schoolchildren and intensified attacks against civilians. The presidential declaration, announced Wednesday, activates constitutional powers reserved for national crises.

    The security overhaul includes plans to recruit 20,000 additional police officers, expanding the national force to 50,000 personnel. Tinubu has further authorized intelligence agencies to deploy specialized forest guards to protect vulnerable remote territories from armed militant groups. “My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas,” Tinubu stated.

    The declaration follows two major abduction incidents last week in Kebbi and Niger states, where gunmen seized approximately 325 students. While Kebbi’s 25 abductees have been rescued and reunited with families, search operations continue for the remaining 300 children taken in Niger state.

    International attention has intensified following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks alleging Christian persecution in Nigeria and threatening potential intervention. These developments have highlighted the critical security situation confronting Africa’s most populous nation.

    Security analysts express skepticism about the effectiveness of Tinubu’s approach. Confidence McHarry, senior security analyst at Lagos-based geopolitical consultancy SBM Intelligence, cautioned that merely increasing security personnel fails to address underlying drivers of conflict. “The ruling elites are yet to awaken to the major reality that the issue has gone beyond throwing bodies at the problem,” McHarry told The Associated Press, emphasizing the need to address government accountability, local grievances, and troop welfare.

    Nigeria faces threats from multiple armed factions including religious extremist organizations like Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province, alongside criminal syndicates conducting kidnappings for ransom. This represents the first nationwide security emergency since 2013, when Nigeria concentrated emergency measures in the northeast region to counter emerging terrorist threats.

  • In pics: aftermath of Hong Kong building fire

    In pics: aftermath of Hong Kong building fire

    China Daily Information Co (CDIC) has established stringent copyright protection measures for all content published across its digital platforms. The company’s comprehensive policy explicitly prohibits the unauthorized republication or utilization of any materials, including textual content, photographs, and multimedia information, without obtaining prior written authorization from CDIC.

    The copyright notice emphasizes the company’s exclusive ownership rights over all published content while specifying technical recommendations for optimal user experience. The organization recommends browsers with 1024*768 resolution or higher for optimal website performance.

    CDIC maintains formal publishing credentials, including Multimedia Online Publishing License 0108263 and Registration Number 130349, underscoring its official status as a content provider. The company’s website features dedicated sections for organizational information, advertising opportunities, contact details, and employment services for both domestic and expatriate professionals.

    The copyright framework aligns with standard intellectual property protection practices while ensuring content integrity across China Daily’s digital properties. The policy serves as both a protective measure for the company’s intellectual assets and a clear guideline for appropriate content usage by third parties.

  • ‘Hang in there’: Agonising wait for the missing after Hong Kong blaze

    ‘Hang in there’: Agonising wait for the missing after Hong Kong blaze

    A catastrophic fire that engulfed a public housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has resulted in at least 75 fatalities, with approximately 300 residents still unaccounted for, marking the territory’s deadliest blaze in six decades. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when flames rapidly consumed seven of eight tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court, a subsidized housing estate built in 1983.

    The devastation has exposed critical safety failures, including the absence of functioning fire alarms and the use of highly flammable materials during recent renovations. Authorities have arrested three construction executives for “gross negligence” after discovering substandard plastic sheeting and polystyrene insulation on scaffolding that accelerated the fire’s spread.

    Personal accounts reveal harrowing escapes and unbearable losses. Forty-five-year-old Mr. Chung received a final desperate call from his wife trapped in their 23rd-floor apartment with their cat. “Hang in there,” were his last words to her before communications ceased. After 24 hours of waiting, he now believes she perished in the smoke-filled flat.

    The disaster disproportionately affected elderly residents, who comprise nearly 40% of the complex’s population. Many were physically unable to evacuate quickly through thick, toxic smoke that filled corridors within minutes. Seventy-two-year-old Grandma Chan escaped only after receiving an urgent call from her daughter abroad, while 82-year-old Grandma Wu abandoned her mahjong game when alerted by family calls rather than building alarms.

    The Hong Kong government has announced immediate relief measures, including HK$10,000 payments to displaced families and a HK$300 million assistance fund. However, for survivors like Kyle Ho, who invested his family’s savings into their apartment, the future remains uncertain despite gratitude for their survival.

    As firefighters continue their search operations, insisting they “haven’t given up” on finding survivors, the community mourns and demands accountability for one of Hong Kong’s most devastating urban disasters.

  • As ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 premieres, Netflix crashes

    As ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 premieres, Netflix crashes

    Netflix’s infrastructure succumbed to overwhelming global demand on Wednesday as millions of subscribers simultaneously attempted to stream the premiere of Stranger Things’ final season. The platform experienced significant service disruptions across the United States and India shortly after the first four episodes launched at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

    The outage triggered immediate frustration among dedicated fans who had awaited the series’ conclusion for three years, with social media platforms flooding with complaints about inaccessible content. Despite technical preparations that included a 30% server capacity expansion announced by co-creator Ross Duffer hours earlier, the streaming service temporarily failed under unprecedented viewership pressure.

    Netflix’s technical team responded rapidly to the crisis, with company representatives confirming to People magazine that full service restoration occurred within approximately five minutes of the initial crash. The incident highlighted the extraordinary anticipation surrounding the cultural phenomenon’s finale season.

    Season 5 transports viewers to fall 1987, continuing the narrative after a modest time jump from Season 4’s spring 1986 setting. The concluding chapter features the original Hawkins ensemble—including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and David Harbour—confronting the supernatural threats of the Upside Down one final time.

    The streaming platform has scheduled the remaining episodes for strategic holiday releases, with episodes 5-7 debuting on Christmas Day and the series finale arriving on New Year’s Eve, ensuring maximum viewer engagement through the season’s conclusion.

  • Putin sees US peace plan as a starting point as he warns Ukraine’s army to withdraw

    Putin sees US peace plan as a starting point as he warns Ukraine’s army to withdraw

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized recent U.S. proposals to resolve the Ukraine conflict as a potential foundation for negotiations, while simultaneously delivering a stark military ultimatum to Ukrainian forces. Speaking to journalists concluding his Central Asian visit to Kyrgyzstan, the Kremlin leader emphasized the critical nature of precise diplomatic language, stating “Every word matters” when discussing potential pathways to peace.

    The Russian president framed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace framework not as a finalized agreement but as “a set of issues put forward for discussion.” However, Putin coupled this diplomatic overture with a severe military warning: “If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this by force.”

    This development occurs amid heightened diplomatic activity, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff scheduled to visit Moscow and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll potentially traveling to Kyiv. The initial U.S. proposals, which European officials noted appeared disproportionately favorable to Russian interests, underwent revision during Sunday’s Geneva negotiations between American and Ukrainian delegations.

    European leaders, increasingly concerned about regional security stability amid Russian aggression, are actively seeking greater involvement in peace discussions. Analysts interpret Putin’s strategy as attempting to outlast Western commitment to Ukrainian defense efforts, particularly as the Trump administration has previously indicated willingness to abandon negotiation efforts without visible progress.

    Despite Russian claims of battlefield momentum, independent military analysts from the Institute for the Study of War challenge Moscow’s narrative of inevitable victory. Their assessment indicates Russian forces continue struggling to capture strategic cities in Donetsk Oblast, with recent advances representing opportunistic gains rather than sustained operational success.

    The diplomatic landscape further complicated as Russia ordered the closure of Poland’s consulate in Irkutsk, a retaliatory measure following November’s shutdown of Russia’s diplomatic mission in Gdansk. This diplomatic friction unfolds against continued military violence, with overnight drone exchanges resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage across conflict zones.

    Ukraine faces additional challenges beyond battlefield pressures, with President Zelenskyy’s administration confronting significant corruption allegations and substantial financial shortfalls. While the International Monetary Fund approved an $8.1 billion four-year assistance package, this support covers merely a fraction of Ukraine’s projected $153 billion budgetary and military requirements through 2027.

  • Look: Hong Kong fire survivors hunt for hundreds of missing

    Look: Hong Kong fire survivors hunt for hundreds of missing

    In the aftermath of a devastating fire in Hong Kong, survivors are desperately searching for hundreds of individuals reported missing. The blaze, which erupted on November 27, 2025, has left the community in shock and mourning. Emergency services are working tirelessly to locate the missing and provide support to affected families. The incident has drawn widespread attention, with local authorities launching a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures in densely populated urban areas. As the search continues, the resilience and solidarity of the Hong Kong community remain a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.

  • Machines Can Think 2026 launches in Abu Dhabi, fueling UAE’s $100 billion AI push

    Machines Can Think 2026 launches in Abu Dhabi, fueling UAE’s $100 billion AI push

    Abu Dhabi is positioning itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation with the announcement of Machines Can Think 2026, a landmark summit scheduled for January 26-27, 2026, at Park Hyatt Saadiyat. The event represents a significant milestone in the United Arab Emirates’ ambitious national strategy to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse.

    The summit, organized by Polynome, will convene an exceptional gathering of more than 20 leading AI researchers from over 12 countries alongside top executives from technology giants including NVIDIA, Meta, and Google. The program features an extensive agenda comprising over 50 keynote presentations, more than 10 hands-on workshops, and immersive demonstration zones where attendees will experience cutting-edge AI technologies firsthand.

    Aligning with the UAE’s comprehensive 2031 AI strategy and its substantial $100 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, the event will explore three dedicated thematic tracks: Co-Evolution (addressing human-AI interfaces), Technical Breakthroughs, and Executive Strategies for responsible AI adoption. Notable session highlights include ‘UAE Stargate: Building a National AI Fabric,’ ‘Foundation Models and Infrastructure,’ and ‘AI for Life Sciences,’ alongside pioneering demonstrations in computer vision under the theme ‘Machines Can See and Act.’

    Prominent speakers include Michal Valko (Chief Models Officer at a Stealth AI Startup), Manohar Paluri (VP of AI at Meta), Andrey Doronichev (CEO of Optic), Marc Hamilton (VP of Solutions Architecture at NVIDIA), and Serge Belongie (Director of the Pioneer Centre for AI). The summit has secured partnerships with prestigious institutions including Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

    Alexander Khanin, Founder and CEO of Polynome.ai, emphasized the summit’s role as a catalyst for transformative dialogue: ‘As AI is projected to contribute $320 billion to the regional economy, our mission is to convert this potential into tangible progress, enabling nations and industries to build sustainable, intelligent systems.’

    Professor Ivan Laptev of MBZUAI and co-founder of Machines Can See added: ‘Abu Dhabi is rapidly emerging as a center for advanced AI. This summit exemplifies that momentum by fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange across computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing.’

    The event builds upon the success of previous Machines Can Summits, which attracted 3,500 attendees from 82 countries in its last iteration. The 2026 edition will be complemented by a sister event, Machines Can See, in Dubai, with both initiatives designed to accelerate responsible AI development and adoption. The summit will also feature a dedicated panel on inclusion in AI, organized in partnership with Women in AI.