The Dimension of Tech Dollars: World Labs Secures $1 Billion to Bridge AI and Reality with a Focus on Spatial Intelligence

SAN FRANCISCO — In a move that signals the next major pivot in the artificial intelligence arms race, World Labs, the startup founded by “Godmother of AI” Dr. Fei-Fei Li, announced on February 18, 2026, that it has raised $1 billion in a transformative funding round. The capital injection, which includes a strategic $200 million […]

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From Scunthorpe to the Aegean: British Steel Secures Landmark 24/7 Turkey Rail Deal

SCUNTHORPE, UK — In a major resurgence for British heavy industry, British Steel has secured an “eight-figure” contract to supply 36,000 tonnes of rail for Turkey’s ambitious high-speed rail network. The deal, announced on February 18, 2026, has acted as a historic catalyst for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, which has resumed round-the-clock, 24/7 manufacturing operations […]

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Artists face steep income decline due to AI, UNESCO finds

The latest edition of Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, UNESCO’s flagship monitoring report covering more than 120 countries, warns that generative AI is projected to drive significant income losses for artists by 2028. ‑generated content in global markets. The report stresses that these disruptions are occurring at a pace that outstrips current policy responses, exacerbating inequalities […]

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Humanitarian access to Gaza still insufficient for relief and rebuilding: UN development chief

Mr. De Croo, who chose Gaza for his first overseas visit since being appointed to the top job in November 2025, called for an expansion of access to the occupied territory for UN agencies to strengthen efforts to remove rubble and waste, provide shelter and medical equipment and evacuate patients. On Monday, Mr. De Croo […]

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UN social policy commission closes with calls to turn pledges into action

Meeting at UN Headquarters, in New York, from 2 to 10 February, the Commission for Social Development marked its first session since the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha last year. The gathering brought together ministers, senior UN officials, civil society groups and youth representatives to examine how global pledges can be […]

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In the hands of innovators from the Global South, AI can transform lives

Fodder cutters are fearsome machines with huge circular blades spinning at high speed, powered by small generators. Operated by rural workers in several developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Kenya, they pose a constant risk – many have had hands or arms amputated following accidents. The consequences are devastating. Tasks that shape daily life – […]

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In Bahrain; work, dignity and the quiet rise of home-grown enterprise

Their experiences underline a broader message: inclusive economic growth depends on opening space for those too often excluded, including people with disabilities, youth and home-based innovators. Entrepreneur by necessity For Shaymaa Saeed, a young Egyptian crochet designer and handicrafts artist with a disability, entrepreneurship was not a lifestyle choice but a necessity. Health challenges prevented […]

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Join RISE’s $500K Blue Ridge Regional Resilience Challenge 2026

The Blue Ridge Regional Resilience Challenge 2026 is a competitive innovation program launched by RISE to identify, fund, and pilot solutions that address multi-hazard resilience in real community settings. Rather than treating disasters as isolated events, the Challenge is designed to support solutions that: Work across multiple hazards and phases (preparedness, response, recovery) Strengthen regional […]

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Invisible highways: The vast network of undersea cables powering our connectivity

The exchange of data in the blink of an eye has become a given in much of the world – and yet we rarely pause to think about what makes it all possible: a complex global network of cables in the depths of the ocean that silently connects us. In the modern information age, undersea […]

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Carlyle Clinches $22 Billion Landmark Deal for Lukoil Assets

The Carlyle Group has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the majority of Lukoil’s international portfolio in a transaction valued at $22 billion. The deal represents one of the largest private equity carve-outs in the energy sector this year, signaling a major shift in the ownership of global fossil fuel infrastructure. The acquisition encompasses a […]

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