- 6d ago
OpenAI cuts funding round target by $10bn to about $20bn as AI stocks slide
OpenAI is now seeking about $20bn at a $1.25tn valuation, down from $30bn at $1.4tn, as an AI stock sell-off and Anthropic's looming listing weigh on the round.
- Oct 30
Verlinden's 11,500-euro business flight to Abu Dhabi went ahead despite a negative finance inspectorate opinion
Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden received budget approval for a trip to Abu Dhabi after the Inspectorate of Finance had advised against it. The New York to Abu Dhabi business ticket alone reportedly cost 11,500 euros, within a trip estimated at about 25,000 euros.
- Oct 23
UAE closes Umm Al Quwain beaches as oil spill from tanker reaches its coast
The UAE has closed all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain after a tanker leak. Satellite imagery shows the slick had spread more than 35 km from the tanker by 21 October and now extends toward island habitats.
- Oct 23
Dutch intelligence reportedly monitored Jared Kushner's phone and a Dubai bank account
The MIVD reportedly watched the phone of Trump's son-in-law from 2018 with help from a defected Russian hacker, according to an excerpt of a new book published by Vanity Fair. Kushner denies the allegations.
- Oct 22
UAE nominates Lana Nusseibeh for UN secretary-general after stalled straw polls
The United Arab Emirates nominated Lana Nusseibeh on Wednesday, 21 October, after no candidate escaped a negative vote in the Security Council's latest straw poll. Rebeca Grynspan finished first in that closed-door ballot, held on Friday, 16 October.
- Oct 19
Macron secures extended Saudi diesel supply for France during surprise Riyadh visit
Saudi Arabia has agreed to keep supplying extra diesel to France 'for as many months as necessary', the Élysée said after an unannounced stop in Riyadh by Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, 21 October.
- Oct 14
IEA sees diesel market staying tight through 2027 as oil demand drops
The International Energy Agency expects diesel supply to stay constrained into 2027 and sees global oil demand falling 2.6 million barrels per day in 2026. Renewed attacks in the Gulf add risk to the recovery in Middle East oil exports.
- Oct 13
Burnham asks for manual trawl of records on Man City dinners after club's rule breaches
The prime minister says the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is searching everything linked to his earlier contact with the club, after records of two dinners with its chairman were found deleted.
- Oct 9
UAE prosecutors say flydubai co-pilot planned 9/11-inspired suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport
The UAE attorney general says the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot planned to crash the 30 September Dubai-Tel Aviv flight into Ben Gurion airport's passenger terminal after an axe attack on the captain was stopped by crew and passengers.
- Oct 6
OpenAI seeks $30 billion from UAE funds and BlackRock at $1.4 trillion valuation
Abu Dhabi investment fund MGX and asset manager BlackRock are in talks to join a $30 billion financing round for OpenAI, which values the artificial intelligence company at a fixed $1.4 trillion.
- Oct 6
United Arab Emirates lifts poultry import restrictions on 13 Polish provinces
The United Arab Emirates has opened its market to poultry and table eggs from all Polish regions after removing import restrictions on 13 provinces following negotiations that began in September 2024.
- Oct 5
Special Criminal Court adjourns Daniel Kinahan case and Kerry crystal meth trial
Dublin's Special Criminal Court has adjourned proceedings against Daniel Kinahan to 12 October after Belfast solicitor Darragh Mackin was retained to represent him, while also delaying a trial over a 32.8 million euro crystal meth seizure.
- Oct 4
FlyDubai co-pilot faces international probe after mid-air axe attack on flight to Israel
Hamam al-Hammami allegedly stabbed his captain and forced a 16,000-foot plunge on a flight to Tel Aviv before crew and passengers subdued him, prompting inquiries across five countries.
- Oct 3
Formula 1 confirms 2026 season finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi despite Middle East conflict
Formula 1 will stage its final two 2026 races at Lusail and Yas Marina as planned, keeping Italy's Imola circuit on standby while regional conflicts reshape Middle East motorsport.
- Oct 2
Lib Dems demand Andy Burnham disclose meetings with Manchester City owners after financial ruling
The Liberal Democrats have called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to publish full records of his meetings and hospitality with Manchester City's owners following a Premier League verdict finding the club guilty of 114 financial charges.
- Oct 2
US blacklists Iran's top automakers and national rail operator in expanded sanctions
The US Treasury designated Iran's largest car manufacturers, state railway, and international suppliers on 1 October 2026, extending economic measures to land transport and manufacturing.
- Oct 1
Polish regional data shows eastern voivodeships outpace national GDP per capita growth in 2024
Poland's eastern voivodeships recorded per capita GDP growth above 9% in 2024, outpacing the national average of 7.7% and narrowing the gap with Warsaw.
- Sep 29
EPPO raids across 19 countries dismantle 300 million euro refurbished phone fraud ring
European authorities coordinated by the EPPO searched over 160 locations and arrested seven suspects accused of selling one million repackaged used phones as new products.
- Sep 28
Netanyahu Holds Secret UAE Meeting with Mohamed bin Zayed Confirmed by Both States
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, in a visit officially confirmed by both governments on Monday.
- Sep 22
Alibaba unveils Zhenwu V900 AI chip and plans up to 10-trillion parameter model
At the annual Apsara conference in Hangzhou, Alibaba Group introduced its Zhenwu V900 semiconductor and committed to expanding its global data centre capacity beyond 20 gigawatts by 2032.
