Author: Sam Allcock

500 Global, one of the world’s most active venture capital firms, has entered a strategic partnership with dcamp, South Korea’s leading foundation for entrepreneurship, to accelerate the growth of Korean startups seeking expansion into the United States. The collaboration, announced at 500 Global’s headquarters in Palo Alto on 28 August, aims to provide Korean founders with direct access to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Select startups will be admitted into the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator programme, where they will gain market insights, connect with local networks and develop strategies for international growth. Younghoon Park, chief executive of dcamp, said the agreement…

Veteran British actor Malcolm McDowell has shared the secret behind his three-decade marriage, saying that respect and shared interests have been key to its longevity. The 82-year-old star of A Clockwork Orange has been married to visual artist Kelley Kuhr, 58, since 1991. Speaking to People magazine, McDowell said he did not consider himself an expert on relationships, but felt “very lucky” to have found a partner with whom he shares both admiration and companionship. “You know what? Honestly, I am not an expert on relationships. I wish I were,” McDowell reflected. “And I think just liking the partner you’re…

British actor Warwick Davis will reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick in HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter television adaptation. The multi-award-winning actor, best known for portraying the Charms professor in the original film series based on J.K. Rowling’s novels, is the first returning cast member confirmed for the new project. Davis also played Griphook the goblin in the films, but that role will now be taken on by actor Leigh Gill, known for Joker and its sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. The announcement was made as part of the annual Back to Hogwarts celebration on September 1, a date…

Apple is preparing to showcase its latest devices at its 2025 launch, scheduled for 9 September. The event, officially branded as the “Awe-Dropping” event, is expected to reveal the iPhone 17 series alongside new Apple Watches and AirPods. The announcement comes amid strong anticipation from analysts and Apple enthusiasts worldwide. The iPhone 17 will succeed last year’s iPhone 16, with Forbes reporting that pricing will largely mirror previous models despite concerns over new tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump. According to early industry forecasts, the standard iPhone 17 may start at $799, unchanged from its predecessor. The iPhone 17…

At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025 in Madrid, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk unveiled real-world evidence that its obesity treatment Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg) significantly outperforms rival therapy tirzepatide in reducing cardiovascular risk. The new findings, drawn from the STEER real-world study, compared outcomes for patients with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) but without diabetes. Results showed that Wegovy users experienced a 57% greater reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) – including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death – than patients prescribed tirzepatide, provided their treatment remained uninterrupted. During the trial, 15…

Under the patronage of HRH Prince Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Farhan Al Saud, CEO of the Liajlehum Association, more than 300 people with disabilities and their families took part in the “Ma’an Namshi” (Together We Walk) initiative in Riyadh. The event, hosted at the Radisson Riyadh Airport Hotel, aimed to strengthen community engagement and inclusion, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s commitment to a more vibrant and inclusive society. Guests were welcomed with Saudi coffee, dates, flowers, and chocolates before joining the “Walking Together” march. The procession saw persons of determination and their families walking side by side in…

Volkswagen Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, represented by Ali & Sons, have rolled out a series of September offers, giving customers savings of up to AED 22,000 on selected models. The campaign also features a raffle draw, with one buyer set to drive away in a brand-new Volkswagen T-Roc. Running throughout September, the promotion spans several of Volkswagen’s most popular models, including the Touareg, Teramont, T-Roc, Golf GTI and Golf R. Every customer purchasing one of these vehicles during the campaign will automatically be entered into the raffle. The live draw will take place on 9 October 2025 at the…

Dubai’s DMCC and global crypto exchange Bybit have opened applications for the third edition of their international Web3 hackathon, offering a prize pool of $140,000. The competition, titled Web3 Unleashed #3: Shaping the Next Wave of Web3, will run from September to November 2025 and aims to spotlight new talent across the blockchain, decentralised finance, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation sectors. Organisers say the event will build on the success of earlier editions while introducing two new categories: DeFAI – linking decentralised finance and artificial intelligence – and DeSci, which will focus on decentralised science and research innovation. These join…

UAE retailers are investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape customer experiences, but shoppers remain unconvinced, according to the new AI in Retail Report 2025 by SAP Emarsys. Now in its third year, the report draws on insights from more than 200 marketers and 1,000 consumers across the UAE. It highlights a growing disconnect between retailers’ ambitions and customer perceptions. While 82% of UAE marketers say AI is central to their personalization efforts, only 31% of consumers feel brands tailor content to their needs. Just 18% believe they receive fair value in exchange for their personal data. The findings…

Consumers in the Gulf are adopting digital technologies at a faster pace than many global markets, according to Deloitte’s latest Digital Consumer Trends 2025 report. The survey of 2,000 people in the UAE and Saudi Arabia found rising use of generative AI, widespread reliance on smartphones, and rapid growth in social commerce. The study reveals that 58% of respondents have already used generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini, a figure far higher than that reported in the UK and Europe. Of these, more than half engage with AI-powered tools on a weekly or daily basis, employing them…