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  • Ramadan 2026: Here are 6 series to binge-watch this season

    Ramadan 2026: Here are 6 series to binge-watch this season

    As the first week of Ramadan 2026 concludes, evening entertainment patterns have crystallized across UAE households. Post-iftar viewing has evolved significantly this season, characterized by condensed episode counts, enhanced narrative depth, and diverse thematic offerings blending nostalgia, factual inspiration, and rapid-paced storytelling.

    Six standout productions have emerged as dominant conversation pieces:

    El Set Mona Lisa (The Mona Lisa) – This Egyptian psychological drama featuring Mai Omar and Ahmed Magdy has captivated audiences through its harrowing depiction of marital deception. The narrative follows a woman whose romantic marriage rapidly deteriorates upon discovering her husband’s fraudulent financial status and his family’s abusive dynamics. Airing on Shahid and MBC Masr, the fifteen-episode arc has generated substantial digital discourse, particularly regarding the controversial character Hassan. Producers acknowledge drawing inspiration from actual Egyptian social cases.

    Sawa Sawa (Together) – An Egyptian social comedy-drama tracing the evolving relationship between a Cairo resident (Ahmed Malek) and a nurse (Hoda Elmofty) within the vibrant Sayeda Zeinab district. The production benefits from palpable on-screen chemistry between leads, amplified by speculation regarding their off-screen connection. Available exclusively on Shahid.

    Al Ghamida (Hide and Seek) – Veteran actress Huda Hussain headlines this GCC-produced period piece set in 1970s society. The narrative explores complex familial manipulation through a blind mother exploited by her daughters, examining themes of womanhood, relational dynamics, and societal challenges of the era. Streaming on Shahid.

    We Nensa Elly Kan (Forget What Happened) – Yasmine Abdelaziz stars in this celebrity-bodyguard romance thriller tracking the professional-to-personal transformation between a threatened public figure and her MMA-trained protector. The series capitalizes on audience familiarity with the lead pairing from previous Ramadan successes. Available on Shahid.

    Efrag (Release) – Amr Saad returns to television in this psychologically nuanced drama inspired by true events. The narrative follows a man’s reintegration after fifteen years imprisonment for his wife’s murder, focusing on his quest for redemption rather than vengeance. Streaming on Shahid.

    Al Om Al Motawahesha (The Monster Mother) – This four-episode limited series on Shasha represents the trend toward condensed formats accommodating Ramadan’s spiritual rhythms. Based on Kuwait’s shocking Salmiya case involving discovered remains, the production delivers tight suspense through forensic narrative pacing.

  • AMD clinches second mega chip supply deal, this time with Meta

    AMD clinches second mega chip supply deal, this time with Meta

    In a monumental development for the artificial intelligence hardware sector, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has finalized a comprehensive five-year agreement to supply artificial intelligence chips worth up to $60 billion to Meta Platforms. This strategic partnership represents one of the most significant semiconductor supply arrangements in recent history, enabling Meta to acquire approximately 10% of AMD’s chip production capacity.

    The agreement follows AMD’s previous landmark deal with OpenAI last year, which substantially elevated the chipmaker’s market valuation and established its competitive position in the AI processor market. AMD shares surged over 11% in premarket trading following the announcement, building on previous gains that have positioned the company as a formidable challenger to Nvidia’s dominance in AI semiconductors.

    Under the terms of the arrangement, AMD will provide six gigawatts worth of processing capacity to Meta, commencing with one gigawatt of its next-generation MI450 flagship hardware during the second half of 2026. The partnership extends beyond graphics processors to include central processing units, featuring a customized variant specifically engineered for Meta’s unique computational requirements.

    AMD Chief Executive Officer Lisa Su emphasized the collaborative nature of the partnership during a news briefing, revealing that Meta contributed significantly to the MI450’s design optimization for inference computing – the critical process where AI systems like ChatGPT generate responses to user queries. The custom CPU architecture will prioritize exceptional performance metrics while maintaining minimal energy consumption levels.

    Industry analysts note that the inference hardware market is projected to substantially exceed the market size for training equipment as AI applications become increasingly deployed across consumer and enterprise platforms. This strategic alignment positions both companies to capitalize on the exponential growth anticipated in AI inference workloads.

    The financial structure includes a warrant for 160 million AMD shares at a nominal exercise price of one cent, with vesting contingent upon AMD’s stock performance reaching escalating targets up to $600 per share. Each warrant tranche requires Meta to fulfill specific technical and commercial milestones alongside price performance benchmarks.

    Meta’s infrastructure leadership, including Head of Infrastructure Santosh Janardhan, clarified that the agreement complements rather than replaces the company’s existing partnerships with multiple chip vendors, including ongoing relationships with Nvidia and Broadcom. The social media giant continues to develop proprietary processors while maintaining a diversified supplier approach to meet its massive computational requirements.

    This partnership emerges against the backdrop of unprecedented capital expenditure by technology giants, with Reuters calculations projecting combined investments exceeding $630 billion this year from Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta primarily focused on data center expansion and AI infrastructure development.

  • Paramount submits higher offer for Warner Bros Discovery in bid to block Netflix, source says

    Paramount submits higher offer for Warner Bros Discovery in bid to block Netflix, source says

    In a dramatic escalation of the high-stakes corporate battle for media supremacy, Paramount Skydance has formally submitted a heightened acquisition proposal for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations. This strategic maneuver aims to dismantle WBD’s existing arrangement with streaming titan Netflix, setting the stage for an unprecedented showdown in the entertainment industry.

    The revised bid, which improves upon Paramount’s initial offer of $108.4 billion ($30 per share), specifically addresses WBD’s previous concerns regarding financial certainty. While exact financial particulars remain undisclosed, this development represents a critical juncture in the contest for control of legendary entertainment properties, including the coveted “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones” franchises.

    Netflix, which had previously secured a $82.7 billion ($27.75 per share) agreement with WBD, retains contractual rights to match Paramount’s enhanced proposal. Industry analysts from MoffettNathanson suggest that an offer approaching $34 per share from Paramount could effectively conclude the bidding competition.

    The corporate drama has attracted significant attention from activist investors, with Ancora Capital accumulating a $200 million position in WBD and publicly pressuring the board to engage substantively with Paramount’s proposal. The investor group has threatened to vote against the Netflix arrangement and hold directors accountable during upcoming shareholder meetings if negotiations with Paramount are not reopened.

    Regulatory considerations present another complex dimension to this corporate saga. Paramount claims to have already secured preliminary clearance in Germany and asserts having a more straightforward regulatory pathway than Netflix. Conversely, a Netflix-WBD combination would create the world’s largest streaming platform with approximately 500 million subscribers, potentially triggering intense antitrust scrutiny from U.S. and European authorities concerned about market concentration and consumer choice.

    WBD shareholders are scheduled to decide on the Netflix proposal on March 20, though this timeline may shift given Paramount’s latest intervention. The outcome will fundamentally reshape the global media landscape, determining whether traditional studio assets align with streaming-first platforms or consolidate within expanded entertainment conglomerates.

  • Texas lawmaker urged to resign over alleged affair with staffer

    Texas lawmaker urged to resign over alleged affair with staffer

    Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas is confronting intense pressure from within his own party to abandon his re-election campaign and resign from Congress following revelations about his alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide. The emerging scandal has triggered a political firestorm just days before a crucial primary election.

    Details have surfaced regarding explicit text exchanges between Congressman Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles, his Uvalde regional district director, who died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire near her Texas home—a death officially ruled as suicide by medical examiners. According to CBS News reports, these messages from May 2024 show Gonzales requesting “sexy pics” and posing sexually explicit questions to the married staffer, who twice told him he had gone “too far.”

    The situation escalated dramatically when Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, allegedly discovered the communications and sent a message from her phone to Gonzales and other staffers stating he had uncovered an ongoing affair between his wife and the congressman.

    Gonzales has vehemently denied the affair allegations, telling CBS News and Capitol Hill reporters that he would not resign and claiming that “not a single formal complaint” has been filed against his office during his six years in Congress. He characterized the revelations as “coordinated political attacks” emerging days before his primary election against gun rights activist Brandon Herrera.

    The controversy has created significant divisions within the Republican party. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the allegations as “very serious” but emphasized allowing investigations to proceed. While Texas Republican Troy Nehls argued they “can’t afford him to resign” given the party’s slim four-vote majority, several prominent Republicans including Colorado’s Lauren Boebert and Kentucky’s Thomas Massie have demanded his immediate resignation.

    Massie specifically criticized former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Gonzales, posting on X that “Trump is infamous for making terrible endorsements – this is one and it should be revoked.”

    Democratic representatives have also joined calls for resignation, with Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of the Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus, stating that “Rep. Tony Gonzales’s actions would result in a termination and investigation in any other workplace.”

    According to a lawyer representing Santos-Aviles’ husband, the staffer’s mental health deteriorated significantly following the alleged relationship’s conclusion, with workplace harassment after the affair’s discovery exacerbating her decline.

    The outcome of this scandal could have substantial implications for both the upcoming primary election and the Republican party’s fragile majority in the House of Representatives.

  • US government drops case against Democrats in ‘illegal orders’ video

    US government drops case against Democrats in ‘illegal orders’ video

    In a significant legal development, federal prosecutors in Washington have terminated their prosecution against six Democratic lawmakers who produced a video encouraging military personnel to reject unlawful orders. The decision follows the failure of US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office to obtain a grand jury indictment against the defendants, all of whom are veterans with military or intelligence backgrounds.

    The controversy originated in November when the legislators released a 90-second video addressing concerns about American military operations targeting alleged narco-trafficking vessels near South American coastlines. These operations have reportedly resulted in over 130 fatalities since September. The video emphasized servicemembers’ obligation under the Uniform Military Code of Justice to refuse commands that violate U.S. or international law.

    Former President Donald Trump initially denounced the lawmakers as ‘traitors’ and suggested their actions warranted capital punishment, though he later clarified he wasn’t specifically threatening execution. Subsequently, Pirro’s office launched an investigation while the Pentagon initiated proceedings to demote Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy captain and astronaut, which would have reduced his retirement benefits. A judge temporarily blocked this demotion in early February.

    The justice department had attempted to prosecute the group under statutes permitting up to ten years imprisonment for encouraging ‘insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty’ within the military. However, the grand jury declined to endorse the indictment. Legal representatives for Senator Elissa Slotkin had warned prosecutors that continuing the case would prompt claims of ‘vindictive and selective prosecution.’

    While the justice department retains the option to pursue charges in another jurisdiction, there were no indications of such action as of Tuesday. Pirro’s office declined to comment on the development. The accused lawmakers and their supporters have characterized the entire episode as an assault on free speech and an attempt to penalize political opponents.

  • Sarah Maria wins Elite Leadership Award for best migration services in the UAE

    Sarah Maria wins Elite Leadership Award for best migration services in the UAE

    DUBAI, UAE – Sarah Maria, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Whale Migration Services, has been distinguished with the coveted Elite Leadership Award in recognition of her company’s exceptional performance within the United Arab Emirates’ migration services sector. The prestigious accolade, presented by Media Waves and ME2-Connect, celebrates outstanding industry contributions and transformative leadership.

    Under Maria’s strategic direction, Blue Whale Migration Services has established itself as a premier consultancy for individuals and families pursuing international relocation opportunities. The organization provides comprehensive migration solutions including specialized consultation services, European business and investor visa assistance, employment support, and complete end-to-end guidance throughout the migration journey.

    “This recognition truly honors our team’s unwavering dedication to delivering innovative and reliable migration solutions,” Maria stated upon receiving the award. “Our commitment remains steadfast in supporting clients as they pursue their global aspirations and build successful futures abroad.”

    The award selection process evaluated numerous factors including leadership excellence, client satisfaction metrics, service innovation, and overall industry impact. Blue Whale’s operational philosophy, encapsulated by its motto “Your Dream is Our Plan,” emphasizes transparency, professional integrity, and client-centric success strategies.

    The Elite Leadership Awards ceremony, held recently in the UAE, brings together distinguished professionals and organizations across various sectors, highlighting those who demonstrate exceptional standards of excellence and visionary leadership in their respective fields.

  • Canada summons OpenAI senior staff over Tumbler Ridge shooting

    Canada summons OpenAI senior staff over Tumbler Ridge shooting

    Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon has convened emergency meetings with senior OpenAI safety officials following revelations that the Tumbler Ridge shooting suspect had his ChatGPT account banned months prior to the deadly incident. The February 10th tragedy in British Columbia claimed eight lives, including six children, marking one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings.

    The emergency summons comes after The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI had identified concerning content on suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar’s account approximately six months before the attack. The 18-year-old local resident had reportedly generated posts featuring gun violence scenarios, prompting internal debate among approximately dozen OpenAI staff members about whether to alert authorities.

    Minister Solomon characterized these developments as ‘deeply disturbing’ and emphasized the need for clarity regarding AI safety protocols and escalation thresholds. ‘We will have a sit-down meeting to understand their safety protocols and their thresholds of escalation to police,’ Solomon stated, confirming that OpenAI’s senior safety team would travel from the United States to Ottawa for Tuesday evening discussions.

    OpenAI maintains that the suspect’s activity didn’t meet their threshold for ‘credible or imminent plan for serious physical harm to others,’ though the company proactively contacted Canadian police following the attack. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they are conducting a thorough investigation into the suspect’s electronic devices, social media, and online activities, including his interactions with AI platforms.

    The tragedy has ignited crucial conversations about the ethical responsibilities of AI companies in identifying and reporting potentially dangerous content, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into daily life.

  • Trump hits out at reports that top US general warned against attacking Iran

    Trump hits out at reports that top US general warned against attacking Iran

    Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated dramatically following conflicting reports regarding military strategy discussions within the Trump administration. According to multiple U.S. media outlets, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has expressed significant reservations about potential airstrikes against Iran, warning that such actions could trigger a broader regional conflict and require substantial additional U.S. military deployment.

    President Trump vehemently denied these reports through his Truth Social platform, characterizing them as ‘fake news’ and asserting that General Caine believes any military engagement with Iran would be ‘easily won.’ The president’s statement contradicted earlier reports from Axios and The Washington Post indicating that Pentagon officials had raised serious concerns about the risks of military escalation.

    The geopolitical standoff occurs alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner scheduled to meet Iranian negotiators in Geneva. Despite these diplomatic channels, the U.S. has simultaneously orchestrated one of its largest military buildups in the region in decades, deploying substantial naval assets including the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier strike group, which recent tracking data confirms is transiting toward the Middle East.

    President Trump has set an implicit deadline for diplomatic resolution, stating publicly that the world would discover within ‘probably 10 days’ whether the U.S. would reach an agreement with Iran or pursue military action. The administration’s pressure campaign aims to compel Iran to curtail its nuclear program, though Special Envoy Witkoff expressed frustration that Tehran had not yet ‘capitulated’ despite the visible military posture.

    Military analysts note that current U.S. force deployment provides significantly greater operational capacity than during previous engagements, including the January operation against Venezuela and last June’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. This enhanced capability includes extensive refueling aircraft, heavy lift assets, and substantial naval firepower positioned throughout the region.

  • From rural migrant to cartel chief: The rise and fall of Mexico’s El Mencho

    From rural migrant to cartel chief: The rise and fall of Mexico’s El Mencho

    The era of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, infamously known as ‘El Mencho,’ concluded violently on February 22nd when Mexican military forces fatally wounded the drug lord during an operation in Jalisco state. The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) succumbed to gunshot injuries while being transported by air to Mexico City, marking the most significant blow to Mexican organized crime since the recapture of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman.

    El Mencho’s journey from rural poverty to cartel leadership began in the village of Naranjo de Chila, Michoacán, where he was born into a farming family in 1966. His criminal trajectory started after immigration to California, where heroin distribution convictions led to nearly three years in U.S. federal prison followed by deportation at age 30.

    His brief tenure as a local police officer in Mexico proved strategically valuable, providing insights into law enforcement tactics that would later facilitate his evasion of capture for over a decade. Through marriage into the influential Gonzalez Valencia family and ruthless ambition, Oseguera rose within the Milenio Cartel before co-founding CJNG around 2009-2010.

    Under his leadership, CJNG transformed from a breakaway faction into a global criminal enterprise operating in dozens of countries. The cartel established control over key Pacific ports, enabling massive importation of precursor chemicals from China for synthetic drug production. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration identified CJNG as a primary supplier of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl to American markets.

    The organization’s expansion was characterized by extreme violence, including the 2015 downing of a Mexican military helicopter, the killing of 15 police officers, and a 2020 attack on Mexico City’s police chief. Despite this brutality, Oseguera maintained an unusually low public profile, with few recent photographs circulating and reports of his movement between remote locations to avoid detection.

    The aftermath of his death triggered immediate violence, with CJNG gunmen torching vehicles, blocking highways, and clashing with security forces across multiple states. Authorities reported at least 25 National Guard members killed in the retaliatory violence.

    With key family members including his son ‘El Menchito’ serving life sentences in the U.S. and no clear successor, analysts warn of potential cartel fragmentation, intensified turf wars, and escalating violence in contested regions as rival factions compete for control of Mexico’s criminal underworld.

  • Two dead after winter storm hammers the US northeast

    Two dead after winter storm hammers the US northeast

    A severe winter storm, classified as a major nor’easter, has wrought havoc across the northeastern United States, resulting in tragic fatalities and causing extensive logistical paralysis. The system, which has now moved into eastern Canada, delivered historic snowfall totals and powerful winds, leaving a trail of disruption from canceled flights to prolonged power outages.

    In a tragic incident underscoring the storm’s danger, two Maryland residents lost their lives on Sunday afternoon. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a falling tree struck a vehicle, killing 60-year-old Michael Simpson and 43-year-old Virginia Quesenberry. The state of Maryland experienced accumulations of up to 16 inches (40 cm) from the powerful system.

    The storm set records elsewhere. Providence, Rhode Island, was buried under 37.9 inches of snow, marking its largest blizzard in history. Consequently, travel bans and preemptive school closures remained enforced in Rhode Island and sections of Massachusetts as communities initiated large-scale recovery operations.

    Air travel faced severe interruptions, with FlightAware data revealing over 5,000 cancellations on Monday. Disruptions persisted into Tuesday, with more than 2,000 additional flights canceled and nearly 1,000 delayed. Major aviation hubs, including Boston’s Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, were among the most significantly impacted.

    New York City, which recorded over 20 inches of snow—ranking this as its ninth-largest winter storm—implemented a travel ban. Mayor Zohran Mamdani deployed a massive workforce of 2,600 sanitation personnel for road plowing, supplemented by 1,400 emergency workers tasked with clearing sidewalks and bus stops. The city resumed in-person schooling on Tuesday, though neighboring regions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania opted for delays and virtual learning.

    The storm’s impact extended beyond transportation. The historic weather event forced the Boston Globe to suspend its print edition for the first time in its 153-year history, as delivery routes were rendered impassable. Furthermore, a significant power crisis lingered; according to poweroutage.us, approximately 250,000 Massachusetts residents were without electricity on Tuesday morning. Officials in the coastal town of Scituate warned residents to prepare for power to remain out for several days due to restoration challenges posed by persistent high winds.

    The National Weather Service reported that while the core of the nor’easter has moved offshore, strong winds are expected to continue affecting coastal areas of eastern Canada.