Jio Blackrock

Mukesh Ambani, BlackRock to launch new Indian venture

Jio Financial Services and BlackRock signed an agreement to form Jio BlackRock, an equal joint venture

food threats

Heat, conflicts and export bans: Global food threats are on the rise

The extreme heat engulfing swaths of Asia, Europe and North America is just the latest challenge driving fluctuations in the global commodity markets and impacting food prices

Turkey earthquake

Earthquakes strike central Turkey; Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara

The earthquake’s epicentre was in the country’s Adana province and tremors were felt across the eastern and southern parts of the country

Saudia Cargo

Saudia Cargo expands European services

The air cargo services provider has signed a strategic agreement with Jan de Rijk Co to expand its reach

Gautam adani

Bain to buy majority stake in Adani Capital, Adani Housing

The sale of Adani Capital will help Gautam Adani cut liabilities on his conglomerate’s balance sheet as it focuses on its infrastructure development businesses

Twitter

Twitter changes logo to X, bids ‘adieu’ to its blue bird

Twitter’s brand toolkit page on its website calls the light-blue bird its most recognisable asset but that looks to change imminently

US Treasuries

Here are the Asia bank earnings to watch after Wall Street results fuel optimism

Wall Street behemoths such as Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup beat analysts’ expectations in the second quarter, sparking anticipation about a similar upswing in Asia

Meta's Llama 2 model released

Meta unveils AI chatbot Llama 2 for commercial use via Microsoft

The partnership aligns Meta more closely with Microsoft, which has emerged as the clear leader in AI

Nothing

Nothing 2 first impression: A $600 device rethinks how the back of your smartphone can look

Nothing was co-founded by Carl Pei of OnePlus, which makes quality phones with top specs at affordable prices

commodity

Five key charts to watch in global commodity markets this week

The global oil market, climate change, Ukraine’s grains exports and the aluminium sector are among the top commodity markets to keep an eye on this week

Africa

The African continent: Where opportunities abound

The UAE has become a catalyst for economic progress in Africa

Investment perspective

Global investment perspective 2023: The way ahead

The IMF sees the global GDP slipping to the 2.8 per cent range for this year, below the 2022 advance estimates of 3.4 per cent

Solar farms

Solar farms out at sea are clean energy’s next breakthrough

Ocean-based solar farms that can handle waves of up to four meters could be ready for commercial deployment within a year

Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur in Wimbledon 2023 finals: All you need to know about the Tunisian hoping to make history

Ons Jabeur is hoping to make history not just for herself as she fights to win her first ever Grand Slam but for the Arab world as well as Africa

chandrayaan 3

Chandrayaan-3: India’s mission to moon; hopes to land rover on lunar surface

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to the failed attempt in 2019 which aims to demonstrate the country’s capability in safely landing and roving the lunar surface

Meta

Meta launch of Twitter competitor ‘Threads’ expected soon

With the launch, Meta is seeking to take advantage Twitter’s problems since the social media platform was taken over by Elon Musk

Temperatures are rising and hot areas create extreme drought conditions. Image credit: WMO

Monday was the hottest day ever as global temperatures rise

The new high underscores the extreme temperatures this summer in the northern hemisphere, and brings into focus the slow pace of progress on curbing emissions

INVESTMENT

Bahrain signs $1.3bn strategic investment deal with UK

The agreement aims to facilitate investment in sectors such as clean technology, business services and manufacturing

Birmingham Airport

Saudia launches first flight to Birmingham Airport

This is a significant step in Saudia’s strategy of expanding its international network and strengthening connections between the kingdom and the rest of the world

HDFC

HDFC vaults into ranks of world’s most valuable banks

The tie-up of HDFC Bank and Housing Development Finance Corporation creates a lender that ranks fourth in equity market capitalisation

Microsoft activision

Microsoft executive vows to keep ‘Call of Duty’ on Sony PlayStations

Microsoft claims its incentive in buying Activision is to gain a foothold in the lucrative mobile gaming market

insurance

Minor fender bender? That will be $42,000, please

Vehicle owners should brace for their car insurance premiums and repair bills to remain high

aspartame

World Health Organization to assess cancer risk of diet-soda sweetener aspartame

The US Food and Drug Administration has considered aspartame safe since 1974, but others have questioned that finding

climate

Macron calls for fresh overhaul of global taxation to support climate finance: Paris Summit

The French president hosted world leaders to discuss new ways to support climate financing

Japan energy sources

Carbon tax for ships is supported by 22 countries at Paris Summit

The list of supporters for such a tax currently doesn’t include the US or China, the world’s two largest economies

renewable

Big oil’s green retreat helps clear the way for everyone else in renewables

The exits of some players may make it easier for renewable energy companies to raise prices to a sustainable level and to ramp up investment

most liveable cities

Discover the world’s most liveable cities in 2023

This year, the global average score was the highest in 15 years

Israel - Air India, Lufthansa cancel flights (Image: supplied by Boeing)

Aircraft mega-deals prompt bubble warning from industry veterans

Industry veterans warn that the aviation market is showing signs of overheating with record number of aircraft orders placed

TITAN

Lost at sea: Titan submarine ‘imploded’, passengers confirmed dead

Titan’s passengers are confirmed dead after the US Coast Guard said debris found indicated their ship suffered a “catastrophic implosion”

Musk and Zuckerberg cage fight

Clash of the tech titans: Elon Musk challenges Mark Zuckerberg to ‘cage match’

The tech bosses have agreed to a ‘cage match’ after an exchange on their respective social media platforms