Author: Sam Allcock

Holo, a fintech platform reinventing how people purchase homes in the United Arab Emirates, has raised $22 million in one of the largest Series A funding rounds in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) this year. The round was led by Saudi Arabia’s venture capital firm Impact46, with additional backing from Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company, alongside Rua Growth Fund, anb seed, MoreThan Capital, and returning investors Salica Oryx Fund and Dubai Future District Fund. The investment marks a major milestone for the regional proptech sector, underscoring a shift toward digital-first home ownership solutions. Basmah AlSinaidi, Managing Partner at…

Global energy technology company SLB has announced that its joint venture, OneSubsea™, has been awarded a major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Norwegian energy giant Equinor for the Fram Sør development, located offshore Norway. The contract marks a historic step for the industry as it involves the delivery of the world’s first large-scale all-electric subsea production system (SPS). The project will see the installation of 12 wells and four subsea templates, pioneering a new approach to subsea operations that eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid supplied by the host platform. The deal follows a year-long front-end engineering design…

Google has released its first detailed technical report on how artificial intelligence (AI) queries impact the environment, offering unprecedented transparency about the hidden costs of its Gemini app. The report, published this week, breaks down the energy, carbon, and water footprint of AI queries and the infrastructure that supports them. Experts are calling it a landmark step, as no major technology company has previously disclosed such granular information. According to Google, a single Gemini text prompt consumes around 0.24 watt-hours of electricity—comparable to running a microwave for one second or watching nine seconds of television. Each query produces 0.03 grams…

Students and staff at the University of South Carolina in Columbia were thrown into panic on Wednesday evening after a black umbrella was mistaken for a firearm, prompting an active shooter alert across campus. The incident began shortly after 6:30 p.m. when university officials reported what they believed to be an armed individual near the Thomas Cooper Library, one of the campus’s busiest locations. Authorities urged people to shelter in place or evacuate immediately while police searched the grounds. The library was closed during the investigation, and emergency alerts were sent across the university community. For nearly an hour, fears…

Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel Wahab has issued a statement clarifying her position on recent controversies, firmly denying rumours of a reunion with her ex-husband Hossam Habib and announcing the end of her relationship with lawyer Yasser Kantoush. In a post shared on her official social media pages, the star stressed that Kantoush no longer represents her legally and that she has no professional or personal ties with him. “Artist Sherine Abdel Wahab announces to her esteemed fans and the public that Mr. Yasser Kantoush does not legally represent her in any matter, and she has no current relationship with him,”…

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has officially released its Grok 2.5 model as an open-source system, a move the billionaire says is intended to promote transparency and collaboration in AI development. The announcement was made on Musk’s social media platform X, where he also confirmed that Grok 3, the company’s next major release, would be open-sourced within six months. The Grok series of AI models is positioned as a rival to leading frameworks from companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. By making Grok 2.5 publicly available, xAI aims to allow researchers, developers, and hobbyists worldwide to test, refine,…

Apple’s smartwatch line offers a wide range of features, but one area where users should exercise caution is water exposure. Despite its sleek design and high price tag, the Apple Watch is not entirely waterproof. Apple has been deliberate in its language, consistently describing the device as “water resistant” rather than “waterproof.” This distinction is crucial for users who might assume the device can withstand extended water exposure without issue. According to Apple’s official classifications, models from the Apple Watch Series 2 onwards — including the Apple Watch SE — carry a water resistance rating of up to 50 meters,…

SBC Medical Group Holdings, a global provider of consulting and management services for medical corporations and clinics, has announced the appointment of Dr Ewen Chee as President of Aesthetic Healthcare Holdings (AHH) and Lead Doctor for Asia Strategy. The Singapore-based physician, widely regarded as a pioneer in the country’s aesthetic medicine sector, will oversee physician recruitment and training across the Asia-Pacific region. His new role is expected to enhance SBC’s efforts in strengthening its global strategy for the fast-growing industry. Founded in 1999, Dr Chee’s Chelsea Clinic was among the first in Singapore to introduce IPL treatments, a move that…

As families prepare for the return to school, Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel & Suites is keeping the summer spirit alive with its seasonal programme, The Summer of Cool. Located on Palm Jumeirah’s shoreline, the resort is highlighting its mix of leisure, entertainment, and hospitality as it encourages families, couples, and solo travellers to make the most of the final weeks of summer. General Manager Murat Zorlu said the aim was to capture the energy of the season while offering guests a way to “beat the heat” through carefully curated experiences. Suites and stays The property is offering a range…

Hyundai Motor Group’s leadership across three generations has been recognised with the Automotive News Centennial Award for outstanding contributions to the global automotive industry. Executive Chair Euisun Chung, his father Honorary Chairman Mong-Koo Chung, and grandfather Founding Chairman Ju-yung Chung were named as influential figures who have reshaped global mobility and built Hyundai into one of the world’s leading carmakers. The award, part of Automotive News’ 100th anniversary celebrations, will be presented at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit on 11 September 2025. Global rise under Euisun Chung Since becoming Executive Chair in 2020, Euisun Chung has propelled Hyundai Motor…