The news, anew
Politics
In diligent, exhausted Japan, self-described elite "competitive sleepers" vied to lie down, relax and nap the fastest and deepest in a contest organized by a mattress company. The Tokyo competition, dubbed "Matt Race", saw dozens of participants fitted with sleep tracking devices sprawl on comfy mattresses to slumber for up to 90 minutes Monday, competing for the top prize of over two million yen ($14,000).
News
South Korea is considering measures to force an apology from North Korea over a recent landmine blast that injured three soldiers inside the Demilitarized Zone, its defense ministry said Tuesday. A joint South Korean-UN investigation concluded that two landmines that exploded in the DMZ last month were planted by North Korean forces about a year ago, prompting Seoul to demand an official apology, reported AFP.
Technology
AI agents going rogue and ever-louder doomsday warnings have led many in Europe to wonder: are the EU's artificial intelligence rules enough to protect against the potential dangers? The European Union insists that, yes, its law known as the AI Act is powerful enough since it forces companies to assess and mitigate risks, under threat of massive fines or even bans, AFP said. EU lawmakers, officials and experts appear more skeptical, pointing to gaps in the rules and questioning whether Brussels has the stomach for a fight with AI labs.
Business
The Philippine ube has become a trend-setting sensation from Los Angeles to London to Seoul, with the humble yam's bright purple hue drawing lines outside coffee shops and bakeries and millions of views on social media. But keeping pace with the international boom has proven tricky for the archipelago nation's overwhelmingly smallholder farmers, with yields declining and some unable to commit to the plant's nine-month growing time.
Culture
‘The best way to experience Lecce is to walk around looking up.’ That is what a tourist is told shortly after arriving in the second-largest city in Italy’s Puglia region, often described as the “Florence of the South.” And not because it is a place filled with skyscrapers like New York. Rather, because so much of its beauty is built into its exquisite architecture, according to London’s Metro newspaper. The cobbled streets are steeped in history, and every Baroque-era building tells a story, much like its northern sister.
Culture
By Dexter Palmer* “The Eye of Goliath”, the Argentine writer Diego Muzzio’s dark-humored, macabre puzzle box of a novel, is set just after World War I, in an Edinburgh sanitarium that “harbored a select group of the many mentally ill people who had come back from the war.”
Business
The world's richest companies can no longer rely on their massive cash piles alone to stay in the artificial intelligence race and have suddenly started borrowing massively in a shift that is sending repercussions across the world. Rising US interest rates, including on the Treasury bonds that anchor the global economy, are sending tremors through the financial world, and some analysts point to the AI borrowing bonanza as one of the culprits, said AFP.
Business
Gold eased on Tuesday, pressured by a firmer US dollar and rising Treasury yields, though losses were limited by easing expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike this month. Spot gold slipped 0.3% to $4,128.69 per ounce by 0155 GMT. US gold futures were little changed at $4,156.00. The dollar held firm, making greenback-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies, Reuters said. The 10- and 30-year Treasury yields hit 24-year highs on Monday as persistent bond market weakness weighed on sentiment.
Culture
The first Monday of October marks World Architecture Day, an occasion that highlights the role of architecture in shaping cities and enhancing the quality of the urban environment. Madinah stands out for its architectural character, which draws on the city’s cultural identity and architectural heritage while preserving the authenticity and distinctiveness of the place, the Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.
News
At least one Iraqi federal policeman was killed and four others wounded on Monday when ISIS militants attacked a federal police site southwest of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, two security sources told Reuters. The attackers used semi-automatic machine guns and sniper fire against the federal police regiment stationed near Hawija, about 70 km (43 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, the sources said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But security and army sources said ISIS militants, who are still active in the area, were involved in the attack.
Sports
Michael Olise starred as France stormed back from behind to thrash Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, while Italy continued their resurgence with victory over Türkiye. Dodi Lukebakio's first-half strike had Belgium on track for a first competitive victory over France since 1981, but Zinedine Zidane turned to his star-studded bench and the hosts produced a devastating late surge. Les Bleus struck four times in the final 13 minutes to keep Zidane's unbeaten record as coach intact as France edged closer to a place in the quarter-finals.
News
Yemen has entered a new phase after the Yemeni leadership announced the launch of Operation Yemen Dawn aimed at restoring the state and ending the coup by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia. The operation spans the west coast and Baba al-Mandeb Strait, as well as Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, Midi and aims to liberate Sanaa from the Houthis. The air force has carried out in recent days air strikes against the Houthis in the capital.
News
Under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in response to a request submitted by Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that the status of all Yemeni nationals residing irregularly in the Kingdom will be officially regularized.
News
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Monday the terrorist Houthi militia’s continued targeting of civilians and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said Saudi Arabia also condemned “the Houthis’ blatant and repeated attacks against the holiest sites on earth - Makkah and Madinah - the capital Riyadh, and the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif, and Yanbu, as well as its targeting of Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.”
News
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye convened on Monday an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defense in Riyadh to address the security developments and threats facing the Kingdom.
Science
The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have carried out research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. The Nobel Assembly lauded their work and said their tool is now being used in laboratories around the world to reveal the brain’s mysteries.
Business
The Saudi Exchange's main index, TASI, resumed its decline at the close of Monday's trading, falling 0.25 percent to 10,479 points. The decline was driven by losses in a number of stocks. On Sunday, the index had ended a losing streak, rising about 1 percent. Riyadh Development Company (Ridan) led the decliners, falling 4.43 percent to SAR18.13, followed by SNB, which dropped 2.77 percent to SAR38.60, and BSF, which fell 2.75 percent to SAR19.80.
Business
The speed and cost of transporting shipments are no longer the only factors determining companies' choices in the logistics services market. Geopolitical disruptions and changes in global trade routes have redefined the concept of supply chain efficiency. Securing transportation alternatives, the ability to shift quickly between routes and modes of transport, and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of goods have become more prominent factors in customer decisions.
