Finland's IQM plans SPAC listing in US at $1.8 billion value
Finland’s IQM Quantum Computers has agreed to merge with Real Asset Acquisition Corp, a US-listed special purpose acquisition company, in a deal that would take the quantum hardware maker public at an equity valuation of about 1.8 billion dollars. The transaction, which remains subject to approval by shareholders and regulators, would......
Larijani emerges as de facto ruler after failed bid to sideline Khamenei
An alleged internal attempt to strip Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of his crisis‑management authority during January’s nationwide unrest collapsed when Ali Larijani refused to back the move, paving the way for his rise as the country’s dominant power broker. According to accounts attributed to French daily......
Denmark restores higher Ukraine aid, lifts 2026 military support to $2.2 billion
Denmark has reversed course on planned cuts to military assistance for Ukraine and will now provide about 14 billion Danish kroner in support in 2026, equivalent to roughly 2.2 billion dollars. The decision replaces an earlier plan unveiled in December 2025 that would have lowered next year’s Ukraine allocation to 9.4 billion kroner,......
Ing report warns dollar’s safe‑haven aura is fading
The U.S. dollar has surrendered part of its traditional crisis‑hedge appeal since 2024, according to a fresh ING study, even as global investors broadly continue to hold dollar assets. The bank’s research, released on Monday, concludes that the shift looks cyclical rather than a permanent loss of status, with no clear sign that the......
Europe’s extreme heat surges tenfold as new metrics expose climate risk
Extreme heat events across Europe have intensified by about a factor of ten in recent decades, as a new study from the University of Graz links this surge directly to human‑driven climate change. Using a novel computation method applied to more than six decades of temperature records, the research shows that heatwaves are not only more frequent......
Lagarde’s BIS stipend reignites questions over ECB pay rules
European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde has come under renewed scrutiny after disclosing that she receives about 140,000 euros a year from the Bank for International Settlements for serving on its board, even though ECB staff rules prohibit employees from taking third‑party payments linked to their official duties. The payment,......
Bangladesh president accuses Yunus of sidelining presidency and plotting unconstitutional ouster
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has accused former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of systematically sidelining the presidency and attempting to remove him from office through unconstitutional means during the 18‑month caretaker administration. In an interview with Bengali daily Kaler Kantho, Shahabuddin said Yunus......
Eileen Gu’s halfpipe triumph seals historic Olympic status
Eileen Gu capped her Milan Cortina campaign with a commanding defense of her Olympic freeski halfpipe crown, delivering a 94.75-point final run that secured her sixth career Winter Games medal and confirmed her as the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. The 22-year-old, born in the United States and competing for China, now......
Star trek game hits 100,000 sales in four days amid pressure on Jumpgate
Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown has sold more than 100,000 copies in its first four days on the market, delivering an early commercial lift for Swedish games group Jumpgate AB after a period of financial strain. Developed by Hamburg-based studio gameXcite and published by Daedalic Entertainment, the licensed strategy survival......
Violence spreads across Mexico after El Mencho killing
The death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, has unleashed a wave of violence across Mexico, exposing the fragile security landscape surrounding one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations. The leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, or CJNG, was killed during a high-risk military......
Aiguebelle marks 158 years in Morocco with manifesto film
Aiguebelle is celebrating 158 years of presence in Morocco with the release of a manifesto film titled “Men Dima ou Mazal,” choosing cinematic storytelling over a traditional advertising slogan. The heritage chocolate brand frames the production as a tribute to Morocco and to the everyday moments of sharing that have anchored its......
Microdramas shake up mobile viewing as $11 billion format eclipses Netflix
Microdrama platforms are now capturing more daily viewing time on mobile phones in the United States than established streaming services, underlining how ultra-short scripted series are redefining video habits on small screens. New figures from research firm Omdia, based on Q4 2025 Sensor Tower usage data presented at MIP London, show that......
UN chief warns global rights system is under full-scale attack
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that fundamental rights and the rule of law are facing an unprecedented global assault, telling the Human Rights Council in Geneva that human rights are now being openly challenged by those in positions of power. Opening what could be his final in-person address to the UN’s......
India urges citizens in Iran to leave as US tensions escalate
India has issued its strongest warning yet to its nationals in Iran, urging all citizens, including students, pilgrims, business travellers and tourists, to leave the country immediately using any available means of transport, including commercial flights. The latest advisory, dated February 23 and released by the Indian Embassy in Tehran,......
UGGC Avocats promotes Rim Tazi to partner in Casablanca
UGGC Avocats has elevated business lawyer Rim Tazi to partner at its Casablanca office, reinforcing the firm’s footprint in Morocco and across African markets. The appointment forms part of the continued expansion of UGGC Africa, the division coordinating the firm’s activities on the continent. Tazi, who joined the firm in 2007......