I used to get seasick – but after taking a chance on a cruise, I fell in love with ship-living, met my future partner onboard, and gave up life on land Until I was 47, I thought cruises were stupid. I’d grown up by a lake and loved water, but ...
Month: May 2026
Far from the fighting: Eid celebrations in Mogadishu – in picturesFar from the fighting: Eid celebrations in Mogadishu – in pictures
Photographer Mohamed Gabobe captured the city’s lively enjoyment of the Islamic festival away from the conflict and drought endured by much of Somalia Continue reading… ...
Trump: the boy who cried ‘peace’ in the Middle East – podcastTrump: the boy who cried ‘peace’ in the Middle East – podcast
On Saturday, Donald Trump said talks with Tehran were going well and an agreement to end the war was ‘largely negotiated’. On Sunday, the US launched strikes on Southern Iran. By Thursday, Donald Trump had circulated a draft peace agreement for the war with Iran among allies. This week, as ...
Companies evaluate aggressive AI spending as costs pile upCompanies evaluate aggressive AI spending as costs pile up
Companies are second-guessing their aggressive spending on AI, as the tech weighs on margins. AI has been pitched partly as an avenue for businesses to save money because of increased productivity — but corporations are now facing ballooning IT costs. Uber blew through its entire 2026 AI budget in four ...
Anthropic hits $965 billion valuation, surpassing OpenAIAnthropic hits $965 billion valuation, surpassing OpenAI
Anthropic on Thursday announced a new funding round valuing it at $965 billion, surpassing rival OpenAI as the world’s most valuable AI startup. The financing caps off a busy several months for the Claude maker, which has rolled out new coding and finance tools aimed at helping businesses be more ...
Child’s play for Japanese adultsChild’s play for Japanese adults
Cutesy toys are going gangbusters among Japanese adults. Some 1,400 capsule toy stores, which sell trinkets dispensed from coin-operated machines, now exist in Japan, with many taking over retail space deserted during the pandemic. The popularity of the toys, known as comes as Japan’s population rapidly ages — the number ...
Nvidia CEO to join board of elite Chinese universityNvidia CEO to join board of elite Chinese university
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to join the advisory board of an elite Chinese university, which counts Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg among its 65 members, the Financial Times reported. The board at the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, which also includes the heads of ...
Japan-Philippines ties strengthen, thanks to ChinaJapan-Philippines ties strengthen, thanks to China
Japan is bolstering ties with the Philippines as regional tensions grow over Chinese military activity. The countries’ leaders formally elevated their relationship and agreed to start talks on a military intelligence sharing agreement. Manila could be the first major customer for Japanese weapons since Tokyo scrapped an exports ban in ...
US and Iran ‘very close’ to deal but ‘not there yet’, Vance saysUS and Iran ‘very close’ to deal but ‘not there yet’, Vance says
US officials earlier told the BBC that, pending the approval of Trump and Iran’s leadership, the framework of a ceasefire extension deal had been agreed. ...
Blackstone’s VFS banks mega profits on African visa applicantsBlackstone’s VFS banks mega profits on African visa applicants
The News A multibillion-dollar outsourcing agency used by European countries to process visa applications in Africa has amassed millions of dollars in profits from services that are often sold without proper disclosure to applicants, a new investigation alleges. VFS Global, which is majority owned by US asset manager Blackstone began ...