Global Pulse

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  • AI app apologises over false crime alerts across US

    AI app apologises over false crime alerts across US

    An artificial intelligence-powered crime monitoring application has issued a formal apology after generating widespread false crime alerts across multiple American communities. The application, identified as CrimeRadar, utilized AI algorithms to scan and interpret local crime data, but reportedly malfunctioned, sending erroneous safety notifications to numerous users.

    The controversy emerged following an investigative report by BBC Verify, which uncovered systemic flaws in the app’s data verification processes. The false alerts created unnecessary panic and confusion among residents who received warnings about criminal activities that were not actually occurring in their vicinity.

    Technology analysts examining the incident suggest the errors likely stemmed from either flawed data inputs or algorithmic misinterpretation of police reports and news sources. The company behind CrimeRadar has temporarily suspended its alert feature pending a comprehensive internal review of its AI systems and data validation protocols.

    This incident has sparked broader discussions about the reliability of AI-driven public safety applications and the ethical responsibilities of developers in ensuring accurate information dissemination. Legal experts note that such false alerts could potentially have serious consequences, including unnecessary panic, misuse of emergency resources, and damage to community trust in legitimate warning systems.

    The developers have committed to implementing additional human oversight and more robust verification mechanisms before reactivating the alert functionality. This case represents a significant setback for AI adoption in public safety sectors and highlights the critical importance of reliability in safety-focused applications.

  • ‘Floating with the wind’: Inside RAK’s hot air balloon that soars 0.5km over UAE desert

    ‘Floating with the wind’: Inside RAK’s hot air balloon that soars 0.5km over UAE desert

    Perched at the edge of the Arabian desert just before sunrise, a group of adventurers gathers to surrender completely to nature’s whims. This is no ordinary flight—OperationFlight Ras Al Khaimah’s hot air balloon experience offers a rare form of aviation where human control yields to atmospheric currents, creating an unforgettable journey 500 meters above the UAE’s dramatic landscapes.

    The physics of flight are elegantly simple yet profoundly counterintuitive. Without steering mechanisms, engines, or braking systems, the balloon operates on pure thermodynamics. Pilot J.P. Lemaire explains the delicate art of aerial navigation: ‘We manipulate altitude through heat application within the envelope, strategically positioning ourselves within varying wind strata to chart our course.’ This thermal dance costs approximately Dh1,000 per participant for the privilege of atmospheric drift.

    Preparation begins in darkness with a desert convoy reaching the launch site where traditional Arabic hospitality awaits with coffee and biscuits. The massive nylon envelope lies dormant across the sands until propane burners roar to life, gradually transforming the collapsed fabric into a vibrant aerial vessel. Passengers secure themselves with aviation-grade harnesses as the basket achieves vertical orientation.

    Ascension occurs with such subtlety that the moment of liftoff registers as an afterthought. The world transforms into a panoramic canvas of endless dunes where camels appear as moving specks against vast terracotta expanses. To the east, the Hajar Mountains catch first light while complete silence prevails except for intermittent burner activations.

    A dramatic counterpoint emerges as a stunt aircraft from the same operator performs aerobatic maneuvers nearby, its violent loops and dives contrasting sharply with the balloon’s serene drift. After approximately sixty minutes of peaceful floating, descent procedures initiate through overhead vents that release warm air.

    The conclusion mirrors the entire experience’s organic nature—two gentle contacts with desert sands mark an unplanned landing exactly where atmospheric conditions determined. No runway, no predetermined destination, just perfect submission to natural forces that completes this unique Arabian aerial adventure.

  • Heritage in motion: How Hackett London is tailoring its next chapter across the GCC

    Heritage in motion: How Hackett London is tailoring its next chapter across the GCC

    In an exclusive interview with Business Technology Review, Marcella Wartenberg, CEO of AWWG Group, outlined Hackett London’s ambitious five-year expansion strategy across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The British heritage brand, renowned for its tailoring excellence and understated menswear aesthetics, is leveraging its partnership with Apparel Group to establish a formidable presence in one of the world’s most competitive luxury markets.

    The GCC region has emerged as a strategic priority for international fashion brands seeking sustained growth amid shifting global consumer patterns. With Dubai serving as the regional anchor, Hackett London’s expansion roadmap focuses on measured market penetration across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. The brand recently underscored its commitment through the regional launch of its Autumn/Winter 2025 campaign in Dubai, featuring racing legends Carlos Sainz Sr. and Jr.

    Wartenberg emphasized that the Middle East represents a long-term strategic investment rather than an experimental market. ‘The GCC offers a unique combination of fashion-forward consumers, strong menswear culture, and high concentration of affluent shoppers,’ she noted. ‘However, success requires precise adaptation to local climate conditions, lifestyle preferences, and styling expectations without compromising the brand’s British heritage.’

    The CEO highlighted the critical importance of maintaining authenticity while implementing regional adaptations. Hackett London’s approach includes introducing lighter fabrics, versatile silhouettes, and transitional pieces that move seamlessly between professional and social settings. This balanced methodology allows the brand to preserve its design integrity while meeting practical consumer needs.

    The Sainz father-son campaign narrative was strategically selected to resonate with regional values emphasizing family legacy and generational continuity. This marketing approach aligns with cultural sensibilities while demonstrating the brand’s evolution within traditional frameworks.

    From an operational perspective, Hackett London is transforming its retail approach from transactional to experiential. The brand is implementing personalized services, strengthened client relationships, and integration with Apparel Group’s loyalty ecosystem. This experiential shift aims to create lasting emotional connections with discerning GCC consumers who increasingly value brand relationships beyond mere purchases.

    Wartenberg confirmed sustained investment across the region, with particular focus on Saudi Arabia’s emerging luxury market and Dubai’s established retail landscape. The expansion strategy combines physical store openings with cultural adaptation, ensuring Hackett London maintains its distinctive British identity while building meaningful regional relevance.

  • UAE: Sharjah Warriorz clinches dramatic four-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

    UAE: Sharjah Warriorz clinches dramatic four-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

    In a nail-biting conclusion at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Warriorz secured a dramatic four-wicket triumph over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on the final delivery of their DP World ILT20 Season 4 encounter. The victory propels Warriorz to six points with two matches remaining, intensifying the competition for playoff qualifications.

    The match unfolded as a tale of two distinct phases. Knight Riders faced catastrophic collapse early in their innings, plummeting to 10/4 within four overs due to devastating bowling from Taskin Ahmed and Wasim Akram. UAE national Wasim Akram made history by delivering the league’s first-ever maiden over by a local player. Despite Sherfane Rutherford’s resilient 44 off 36 balls and Unmukt Chand’s supporting 24, Adil Rashid’s three-wicket haul (3/18) restricted Knight Riders to a modest 134/9.

    Warriorz’s chase encountered early turbulence as Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar struck crucial blows. Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 30 off 35 provided stability before James Rew’s unbeaten 42 off 29 balls emerged as the match-winning performance. Sikandar Raza contributed a vital 28 off 25, forming a 57-run partnership with Rew that proved decisive. The tension peaked when Warriorz required 12 runs from the final over, with Rew and Adil Rashid holding their nerve to secure victory on the ultimate delivery.

    Post-match, Player of the Match Adil Rashid acknowledged the pressure of bowling critical overs against world-class opponents. Knight Riders captain Jason Holder conceded his team’s insufficient total despite praising his bowlers’ fighting spirit, particularly highlighting Sunil Narine’s economical spell that nearly turned the match.

    The result significantly impacts the ILT20 standings, with Warriorz establishing themselves as serious playoff contenders while Knight Riders face increased pressure in their remaining fixtures.

  • US regulatory approves first GLP-1 pill for weight loss

    US regulatory approves first GLP-1 pill for weight loss

    In a landmark decision for obesity treatment, U.S. regulators have granted approval for the first oral formulation of a GLP-1 medication specifically for weight loss. Danish pharmaceutical leader Novo Nordisk announced the Food and Drug Administration’s endorsement of its Wegovy pill on Monday, marking a significant advancement in accessible obesity care.

    The newly approved medication provides an alternative delivery method to existing injectable treatments, offering a once-daily oral option that demonstrates comparable efficacy in weight reduction. This development expands treatment possibilities for adults struggling with obesity or those overweight with accompanying health complications such as cardiovascular conditions.

    Mike Doustdar, Chief Executive Officer of Novo Nordisk, emphasized the breakthrough’s significance: ‘This approval delivers a convenient, daily pill that enables patients to achieve weight loss results equivalent to our injectable Wegovy formulation.’

    The U.S. Obesity Care Advocacy Network welcomed the regulatory milestone, noting that ‘this represents a crucial advancement for individuals living with obesity, providing an alternative for those reluctant to initiate injectable therapy while potentially offering a more cost-effective solution.’

    This medical innovation arrives amid America’s substantial obesity challenge, with approximately 40% of adults affected according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. The new oral medication joins a class of GLP-1 agonist treatments that have gained remarkable popularity for their appetite-suppressing properties and effectiveness in weight management.

    The political dimension emerged through President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of pricing agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. These arrangements aim to reduce consumer costs for weight-loss medications, with oral formulations potentially starting at $150 monthly compared to over $1,000 for some injectable alternatives.

    While Novo Nordisk has not disclosed specific pricing details, the company confirmed plans for a January U.S. market introduction. The development occurs within a broader context of renewed governmental efforts to address pharmaceutical pricing through potential tariff incentives for domestic manufacturing.

  • Tanker seized off Venezuelan coast sparks international outcry

    Tanker seized off Venezuelan coast sparks international outcry

    A dramatic escalation in Caribbean waters has ignited international controversy as United States Coast Guard forces intercepted multiple oil tankers operating near Venezuela. The latest seizure occurred on Saturday when US authorities boarded a vessel in international waters, alleging it operated under false flags as part of Venezuela’s ‘shadow fleet’ transporting sanctioned oil.

    The White House justified these actions as necessary measures against what it describes as illicit oil trafficking that funds ‘narco-terrorism’ in the region. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed the administration’s commitment to continuing these interceptions, while President Donald Trump has ordered a comprehensive blockade against sanctioned vessels traveling to or from Venezuelan ports.

    China has emerged as a vocal critic of these operations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian condemning the seizures as violations of international law during a Monday press briefing. Beijing maintains strong opposition to unilateral sanctions lacking UN Security Council authorization and rejects actions that compromise other nations’ sovereignty and security.

    The Venezuelan government has denounced the seizures as ‘blatant theft and acts of international piracy,’ vowing that these actions will not go unpunished. Official statements from Caracas have highlighted concerns about the ‘enforced disappearance’ of crew members aboard intercepted vessels.

    Regional response has been notably critical, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warning that armed intervention in Venezuela would create ‘a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere.’ Multiple Latin American nations and regional organizations have called for diplomatic solutions through United Nations channels.

    The strategic significance of these operations is underscored by Venezuela’s status as holder of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, exporting approximately 770,000 barrels daily. Each seized tanker was reportedly carrying around one million barrels of crude oil.

    This maritime confrontation occurs against a substantial US military buildup in the Caribbean, including 15,000 personnel, 11 warships featuring the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, and multiple support vessels. Since September, US forces have sunk over 28 vessels allegedly transporting drugs in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters, resulting in more than 100 fatalities.

    Analysts suggest these developments represent not merely economic enforcement but potentially broader geopolitical objectives, with critics alleging the Trump administration may be using naval blockades to precipitate governmental change in Venezuela or create pretexts for military engagement.

  • US official time gets 4.8 microseconds slower over storm-triggered power outage

    US official time gets 4.8 microseconds slower over storm-triggered power outage

    A severe windstorm that battered Colorado last week has unexpectedly impacted the United States’ most precise timekeeping infrastructure, causing the national time standard to fall behind by 4.8 microseconds. The incident occurred when powerful winds knocked out power to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Boulder campus, disrupting the operation of atomic clocks that maintain official US time.

    The disruption began on December 17, 2025, when utility power failed at NIST’s Colorado facility during the intense windstorm. Although backup generators were available, a subsequent failure in one of these critical backup systems caused approximately 16 atomic clocks to lose connection with NIST’s measurement and distribution systems. These clocks, including hydrogen masers and cesium beam instruments, normally maintain the nation’s time standard through a weighted average of their readings.

    According to NIST supervisory physicist Jeffrey Sherman, the lapse resulted in NIST’s Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) becoming 4.8 microseconds slower than the correct standard. To contextualize this deviation, NIST spokesperson Rebecca Jacobson noted that a human blink typically takes approximately 350,000 microseconds (0.35 seconds).

    While the time discrepancy would be imperceptible to the general public, experts warn that such deviations could have more serious implications for critical infrastructure systems. The official US time standard serves as a reference for telecommunications networks, GPS signals, financial transactions, and other time-sensitive applications where precision is paramount.

    As of December 22, utility power had been restored to NIST’s Boulder facilities, and assessment and repair activities are currently underway. The incident highlights the vulnerability of even the most sophisticated scientific infrastructure to extreme weather events and the importance of robust backup systems for maintaining critical national standards.

  • Who are the frontrunners for the top Fed job?

    Who are the frontrunners for the top Fed job?

    The United States stands at a critical juncture in monetary policy leadership as President Donald Trump approaches a decision on the next Federal Reserve Chair, with Jerome Powell’s term concluding in May. This transition occurs during a period of exceptional complexity, marked by intense political influence and internal discord within the central bank regarding future interest rate trajectories.

    Three prominent contenders have emerged in this high-stakes selection process. Kevin Hassett, the 63-year-old former White House economic adviser and Trump loyalist, currently leads prediction markets despite fading momentum. His consistent defense of presidential economic policies has raised concerns among analysts regarding potential independence at the Fed. Deutsche Bank analysts note Hassett might face challenges convincing fellow policymakers to implement significant rate cuts while addressing inflation concerns.

    Kevin Warsh, the 55-year-old former Fed governor and Hoover Institution fellow, has regained traction as a potential alternative. Despite his historically hawkish reputation, Warsh has recently positioned himself as an advocate for lower rates, calling for substantial ‘regime change’ at the central bank. His familial connections to Trump’s circle through billionaire father-in-law Ronald Lauder add intrigue to his candidacy.

    Current Fed Governor Christopher Waller has unexpectedly entered the contention following a recent meeting with the president. Nominated by Trump in 2020, Waller’s relative distance from the White House has garnered favorable attention from Wall Street analysts. Investment experts suggest his selection could create additional appointment opportunities for the administration next year.

    The ultimate decision carries profound implications for global financial markets and central bank independence, particularly given Trump’s persistent demands for lower borrowing costs. Other potential candidates including BlackRock’s Rick Reider and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remain in consideration, though considered less likely appointments.

  • Brown University places its police chief on leave after mass shooting attack

    Brown University places its police chief on leave after mass shooting attack

    Brown University has placed its police chief on administrative leave as part of a comprehensive safety review following a deadly campus shooting that killed two students and injured nine others on December 13th. University President Christina Paxson announced the immediate leave for Chief Rodney Chatman on Monday, characterizing the move as standard procedure during institutional reviews of critical incidents.

    The shooting incident, which occurred in a building housing engineering and physics programs, has triggered multiple investigations into campus security protocols and law enforcement response times. Authorities confirmed the suspect, 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, fired at least 44 rounds before fleeing the scene. Valente, a former Brown student, was found deceased in a New Hampshire storage facility six days after the attack.

    In her statement, President Paxson acknowledged the campus community was experiencing significant ‘anxiety, fear and stress’ while simultaneously praising the responding officers’ ‘bravery, dedication and commitment.’ The university’s highest governing body will conduct parallel reviews of both the shooting response and existing safety policies.

    The tragedy has drawn national attention, with the U.S. Department of Education initiating its own review of Brown’s security measures. The incident took a more complex turn when investigators revealed possible connections between Valente and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor two days after the Brown attack. Motives for both shootings remain undisclosed.

    Victims were identified as Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old Uzbek-American freshman. The university community continues to grapple with the aftermath while awaiting the findings of multiple ongoing investigations.

  • Warner Bros bidding war and red hot M&A market has dealmakers working through holidays

    Warner Bros bidding war and red hot M&A market has dealmakers working through holidays

    Wall Street investment bankers and legal advisers are sacrificing their seasonal holidays to capitalize on one of the most explosive merger and acquisition markets in recent history. With approximately $463.6 billion in deals announced this December alone—representing a 30% surge from the previous year—financial professionals from New York to London are working tirelessly to finalize transactions before the New Year.

    The remarkable activity spans multiple sectors and includes several high-profile corporate maneuvers. Paramount Global, advised by Latham & Watkins, remains engaged in a competitive $108.4 billion pursuit of Warner Bros Discovery, facing rival bids from both Skydance Media and Netflix. In parallel, a consortium led by Permira and Warburg Pincus recently secured an $8.4 billion acquisition of Clearwater Analytics Holdings, while IBM completed its $11 billion purchase of data infrastructure firm Confluent.

    Industry leaders attribute this surge to shifting corporate strategies and favorable market conditions. John Collins, Global Head of M&A at Morgan Stanley, noted, ‘We’ve observed a fundamental shift in boardroom mentality—from seeking reasons to decline deals to actively pursuing reasons to proceed.’ This sentiment is echoed by Gerry Cardinale, Founder of RedBird Capital, who confirmed ongoing negotiations through the holiday period to communicate offer merits to Warner Bros shareholders.

    Global M&A volume has reached $4.8 trillion year-to-date, positioning 2025 as the second-most active period on record after the 2021 peak. Despite geopolitical tensions and trade policy fluctuations, diminished antitrust scrutiny and aggressive corporate positioning have fueled an exceptionally robust dealmaking environment. Financial and legal teams anticipate sustained momentum into early 2026, with several major transactions already in preliminary stages.