AI shopping assistants transform Black Friday as retailers embrace chatbots
This holiday season, major U.S. retailers are deploying advanced AI shopping assistants in a decisive effort to capture a growing share of online holiday spending, marking a pivotal change in e-commerce. Amazon’s AI assistant Rufus, already used by 250 million customers, is expected to generate more than $10 billion in additional sales......
Pentagon urges adding Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD to the US military-linked companies list
The Pentagon has recommended the inclusion of Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu Inc., and BYD Co. on the US government's Section 1260H list, which tracks Chinese companies believed to support the Chinese military. This recommendation was communicated to Congress in a letter dated October 7, just weeks before Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping......
China surpasses the U.S. in global open-source AI model downloads
The global landscape for open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models is undergoing a significant transformation as Chinese-developed AI models have outpaced their American counterparts in total downloads for the first time. According to a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Hugging Face, Chinese open-source......
China vanke’s bond extension request signals renewed unease in property sector
China’s property market faces fresh doubts as state-backed developer China Vanke seeks bondholder approval to delay repayment on a 2 billion yuan ($282.6 million) onshore bond due December 15. This request marks the first public extension for Vanke, a household name with projects across China’s major cities. The move has jolted......
Men embracing princess traits challenge traditional masculinity
The term "les hommes princesses" refers to a growing cultural movement where men openly adopt traits and expressions traditionally associated with femininity, such as vulnerability, attention to appearance, and the use of makeup or feminine clothing. Despite these characteristics, they continue to embrace their masculine identity.......
Romania criminalizes sanction violations and plans state oversight of Lukoil operations
Romania’s parliament has criminalized violations of international sanctions, imposing prison sentences for individuals and companies that breach or circumvent restrictions. The changes mark a significant escalation in the government’s response to enforcement, upgrading prior fines to criminal penalties of one to 12 years based......
China’s industrial profits decline sharply in October amid weak demand and uneven sector performance
China’s industrial profits fell by 5.5 percent in October compared to the same month last year, marking a significant reversal after two months of strong growth. The drop highlights the persistent economic challenges faced by the country’s industrial sector, despite eased trade tensions with the United States and recent government......
Two National Guard members killed near White House in suspected terror attack
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were fatally shot near the White House on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, in what President Donald Trump has condemned as an "act of terror." The guardsmen were conducting a patrol near Farragut Square in downtown Washington, D.C., when the attack occurred. Both men succumbed to their......
AMD stock falls sharply amid competition fears and rising costs despite strong earnings
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares plunged nearly 23% in November, marking the worst monthly decline since 2022. This sharp selloff occurred despite the chipmaker reporting record third-quarter revenue of $9.25 billion, up 36% year-over-year, and issuing optimistic guidance for the fourth quarter. The data center segment continues to show......
Alphabet shares reach new record as Google challenges Nvidia’s reign in AI chips
Alphabet shares climbed to unprecedented heights following reports that Google’s latest AI advancements and chip technology are disrupting Nvidia’s dominance in the artificial intelligence hardware space. The surge comes amid growing investor enthusiasm fueled by the launch of Google’s Gemini 3 AI model,......
Russia resists U.S. push on Ukraine peace proposal
Russian officials have firmly dismissed claims that Moscow is making significant concessions on a proposed peace agreement for Ukraine, countering assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump of a potential breakthrough. Senior figures, including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, have reiterated that Russia will not compromise on its core......
Bank Al-Maghrib reports sharp decline in counterfeit banknotes for 2024
Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) has announced a significant reduction in the rate of counterfeit banknotes in circulation for 2024, marking a major achievement in Morocco’s ongoing efforts to combat counterfeiting. The rate dropped to 1.5 counterfeit notes per million banknotes, a considerable improvement compared to 5.3 per million in 2018. A......
Morocco 2030 Foundation and CNDH join forces to promote sports and human rights
The Morocco 2030 Foundation and the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) have signed a groundbreaking agreement to integrate human rights into sports, particularly football. The partnership was formalized during an international seminar held under the theme “Sports as a Lever for Promoting Human Rights: What Impact on Society?” A......
Morocco expands tourism project bank to over 900 initiatives across 60 provinces
Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism has announced a significant expansion of its Tourism Project Bank, which now includes over 900 initiatives spanning 60 provinces. Initially launched with 200 projects, the initiative aims to transform Morocco into a global tourism destination by fostering investment and innovation. A platform for investment Central......
Miss Universe 2025 victory sparks fairness and transparency debate
Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch’s triumph at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand has ignited widespread controversy, with allegations of unfair practices overshadowing her victory. The pageant, held on November 21 at the Impact Challenger Hall near Bangkok, has come under scrutiny due to accusations of manipulation, judge resignations,......