Author: gulf-daily.com

An estimated 2,300 people died of heat-related causes during a recent heatwave that struck Western Europe, according to a new scientific analysis released on Wednesday. The study examined the period from June 23 to July 2, during which extreme temperatures swept through 12 major European cities. Temperatures in some regions exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, triggering public health emergencies and wildfires, particularly in Spain and France. The rapid analysis was conducted by researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Their findings indicate that around 1,500 of the total heat-related deaths were directly linked to climate change. According to the…

Nvidia reached a historic milestone on Wednesday as its market capitalization surpassed $4 trillion, marking the first time any publicly traded company has achieved this valuation. The company’s shares rose over 2% in early trading, continuing a momentum driven by investor confidence in Nvidia’s pivotal role in the rapidly expanding generative artificial intelligence sector. Founded in 1993, the California-based chipmaker has emerged as a central player in the AI hardware market. Its advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) are widely used to power large language models and other AI workloads. Since the public release of ChatGPT in late 2022, demand for high-performance computing chips has surged,…

The European Union remains in limbo as the anticipated trade agreement with the United States failed to materialize by the expected July 9 deadline. Talks had been moving forward in hopes of avoiding renewed U.S. tariffs, but with no finalized deal in place, both sides remain at a standstill. President Donald Trump had initially signaled that a trade framework might be reached by this week. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he said the U.S. was “probably two days off from sending them a letter,” implying that progress had been made. He added that letters had already been sent to 14 countries detailing…

U.S. copper prices have surged to record levels, widening a historic gap between domestic and international markets, after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. The move, intended to encourage domestic production, has triggered immediate concern over its potential economic fallout. On Tuesday, U.S. copper prices climbed more than 13%, marking their sharpest single-day gain since 1989 and closing at $5.69 per pound. Meanwhile, prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) edged up just 0.3%, highlighting the stark divergence. The premium of U.S. copper futures over global benchmarks soared 138% in a day, reaching over $2,600 per metric…

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong warning against the militarisation of artificial intelligence, urging global cooperation to ensure AI development is guided by principles of equality, human rights, and inclusiveness. His remarks came during the 17th BRICS Summit, which concluded today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Addressing world leaders, Guterres underlined that AI is transforming economies and societies at an unprecedented pace. He called for collective wisdom and restraint to minimise potential risks while maximising the technology’s benefits for humanity. He stressed that efforts to regulate AI must be rooted in multilateral cooperation that includes the active participation of developing countries. The Secretary-General…

The European Union is preparing to stockpile critical raw materials as part of a broader strategy to safeguard its economy and infrastructure against rising geopolitical risks. According to a draft document from the European Commission, reported by a prominent media outlet, the move is aimed at reducing the bloc’s vulnerability to disruptions in global supply chains, particularly those linked to minerals essential for energy production and defense. The draft document warns that the EU is facing a “complex and deteriorating risk landscape,” citing escalating  geopolitical  tensions, armed conflicts, the intensifying impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and an increase in hybrid and cyber threats. In…

Air Arabia has announced the launch of a new non-stop service connecting Sharjah to Munich, further expanding the airline’s European network. The daily flights between Sharjah International Airport and Munich International Airport are scheduled to commence on December 15, 2025. The new route represents a significant addition to Air Arabia’s growing list of European destinations and provides travellers with increased options for affordable and convenient air travel between the UAE and Germany. The service is expected to cater to both business and leisure passengers, enhancing connectivity to one of Europe’s major economic and cultural centres. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air…

Japan’s real wages declined by 2.9 percent in May compared to the same period last year, marking the fifth consecutive month of falling inflation-adjusted income, according to official data released on Monday. The latest figures represent the sharpest year-on-year drop in nearly two years, underscoring ongoing challenges for household purchasing power as wage growth struggles to keep pace with persistent inflation. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that the downturn in real wages accelerated from a revised 2.0 percent decrease recorded in April. The May figure is the steepest decline since September 2023, with falling special earnings such as…

Türkiye has faced a significant surge in wildfires, with 761 separate blazes reported over the past 10 days, according to official figures released by the government on Sunday. The number represents nearly a quarter of all wildfires recorded across the country so far this year. Authorities confirmed that all reported fires have either been extinguished or brought under control. The country’s Communications Directorate stated that extensive efforts by firefighting teams, supported by aerial and ground resources, have helped prevent further spread of the flames in affected regions. The western province of Izmir has been among the hardest-hit areas. According to…

Global food prices recorded a slight increase in June, driven by rising costs of meat, dairy, and vegetable oils, according to the latest data released by the United Nations‘ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday. The FAO Food Price Index, which monitors the monthly fluctuations in international prices of commonly traded food commodities, averaged 128.0 points in June. This represents a minor decline of 0.5 percent compared to May’s revised figure. Despite the marginal monthly decrease, prices in key categories such as meat, dairy, and vegetable oils registered notable upward movements, offsetting declines in other food groups. The FAO highlighted that meat…