RAK Properties Unveils Ultra-Luxury Villa Community on Hayat Island

Following the success of its inaugural edition, the 2nd Lighting Innovation Summit Abu Dhabi will return on 9 September 2026, bringing together lighting professionals, architects, consultants, developers, technology leaders, and industry experts to discuss the innovations and trends shaping the future of intelligent and sustainable lighting.

Co-located with the 2nd Modern Buildings Summit Abu Dhabi, the event will provide a platform for exploring key topics including connected lighting, smart controls, human-centric design, energy efficiency, digital integration, and sustainable lighting solutions. Together, the co-located events will offer attendees a broader perspective on the technologies transforming today’s built environments.

The summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and networking opportunities, providing practical insights into the latest advancements in lighting technology and design. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with industry peers, discover emerging solutions, and explore strategies that enhance performance, sustainability, and user experience across commercial, residential, hospitality, healthcare, and public infrastructure projects.

Bringing together stakeholders from Abu Dhabi’s construction, real estate, infrastructure, hospitality, healthcare, and public sectors, the summit aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange while supporting the adoption of innovative lighting technologies and best practices across the built environment.

Event Details

Event: 2nd Lighting Innovation Summit Abu Dhabi
Date: 9 September 2026
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Co-Located With: 2nd Modern Buildings Summit Abu Dhabi

Meta Platforms is facing one of the most serious legal threats of its 22-year history—and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the company as it navigates a tricky and costly transition to the artificial-intelligence era.

In March, the company suffered defeats in landmark court cases in California and New Mexico that accused it of giving priority to growth over the safety of its underage users. Thousands more lawsuits by individuals, school districts and more than 40 state attorneys general are pending in state and federal courts. Together, they could put the company on the hook for many billions of dollars in damages and weaken the federal protections that have historically shielded it from liability for harmful content on its platform.

Meta is currently in the midst of a trial over claims by the attorney general of Tennessee, one of dozens of states that have said the company misled its users about the safety of its platform. In August, Meta will go to trial in federal court in Oakland over claims from four attorneys general. In that litigation, the states have asked for damages of up to $1.4 trillion—a sum nearly equivalent to Meta’s $1.5 trillion market capitalization. Another trial in that consolidated set of cases is slated for February.

Recent cases have brought mixed results. In May, Meta settled with a Kentucky school district ahead of a trial planned in Los Angeles. It notched a win this month after the teenage plaintiff in another case dropped his suit without receiving any payment from Meta, after settling with co-defendants YouTube, Snap and TikTok. Meta said it would continue to fight “baseless” lawsuits, noting the plaintiff had created his account only six months before filing the suit.

The lawsuits, which argue that social-media services are designed in ways that cause mental-health problems in young people, are finally getting in front of juries after working their way through courts for years and overcoming attempts by the companies to have them dismissed.

While the personal-injury lawsuits seek only monetary damages, the state and school district cases go further, asking courts to order Meta to alter some of the features and dynamics that have made its products sticky enough to attract 3.5 billion users. With user growth across its family of apps already slowing to a standstill in the first quarter, adverse changes could be punishing to Meta’s core business.

Meta has expressed willingness to work with the states and schools to continue to make its products safe while calling the estimate of more than $1 trillion in damages absurd. “A sanction of that size has no analog in the history of consumer protection enforcement,” the company said in a filing.

Even if that number ends up shrinking, the collective financial impact of the cases could be significant. The company warned investors that a loss in the New Mexico case alone could yield $3.7 billion in damages once the second phase of the trial has concluded.

The timing is far from ideal for Meta, which, after long dominating the market for social-networking services, is racing to retrofit its business to a world in which AI is rapidly becoming the focus of competition. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said success in this new age is “not a given.”

Meta is planning up to $145 billion in capital spending this year, largely to buy chips and build out its data centers, and earlier this year it laid off 8,000 employees, in part to fund its AI plans. Analysts are expecting the company to report its first quarter of negative free cash flow when it announces its second-quarter earnings Wednesday.

“It comes down to, How can they handle this? How are they prepared to handle this?” said Brian Mulberry, who manages a portfolio at Zacks Investment Management that includes Meta stock. “I do think it’s a real risk for sure.”

Tech analyst Josh Beck, of Raymond James, is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding what to make of the trials.

“I think it’s something that’s out there. It’s coming up a little bit more,” he said. “But we need to see a little more direction before people become concerned.”

A Meta spokeswoman said in a statement that the company would continue to defend itself vigorously while focusing on providing “safe, age-appropriate experiences parents tell us they want for their teens.”

“Every case is different, and the outcome of one doesn’t dictate the outcome of another,” the spokeswoman said.

Social-media companies have long been insulated from many legal threats because a federal law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, shields them from liability for others’ content on their platforms. Judges around the country, however, are letting many cases go to trial on a theory that says their products are designed intentionally to addict people, sidestepping arguments that rely on claims of harmful content.

Meta has consistently denied wrongdoing in response to lawsuits alleging user harm and in court has pointed to new safety features for teenagers’ accounts and other product changes it has already made as evidence that it is giving priority to safety over growth. It is heavily promoting teen accounts, building stricter supervision controls, putting limits on late-night notifications and installing compulsory break reminders.

Meta has said the litigation is trying to fix a sprawling societal issue with a patchwork of court rulings that, if successful, wouldn’t stop young people from using other types of social media. It has said it would rather address social-media content and design-related issues with federal legislation that applies to the whole industry versus hashing these cases out one-by-one in court. The company plans to appeal the verdicts in Los Angeles and New Mexico.

But the tech giant has shown signs of willingness to compromise. In June, it settled one of the cases slated for trial in federal court, and it raised the prospect of altering some of its platform features as part of the second phase of the trial in New Mexico, where a judge is weighing further damages requested by the state.

Meta’s chief privacy and compliance officer, Michel Protti, testified that the company would be willing to consider changes requested by the state, including making all users under 18 private by default and requiring parent consent to be public and to block notifications during school hours by default, with some exceptions. Meta called many of the requests technically unfeasible, and Protti testified that some had “high potential to grind all our global product development to a halt.”

For Meta, the damages awarded to plaintiffs to date—$6 million to the 20-year-old woman in Los Angeles (split between Meta and YouTube) and $375 million to the state of New Mexico—are a small drop in the bucket for a company that brings in more than $200 billion a year. But it is the precedent the verdicts set that might become an issue.

“You wouldn’t want to keep losing these cases in a row. They make a ton of money, but they could be looking at billions in liability,” said data-privacy lawyer Phil Yannella, who isn’t involved in the lawsuits. “No company is going to ignore that.”

Automobili Lamborghini announces the appointment of Francesco Milicia as Marketing Director, following Christian Mastro’s transition to his new role as CEO of Automobili Lamborghini America. Effective 1 September 2026, Milicia will lead the brand’s global marketing strategy, contributing to the consolidation of its positioning across international markets.

Francesco Milicia joins Automobili Lamborghini with significant international experience gained in the automotive sector, particularly within Ducati, a company within the Volkswagen Group. During his career he has led business development, commercial growth, digital transformation and organizational change initiatives across global markets. He also lived and worked in Asia for several years, developing a deep understanding of the dynamics and cultures of international markets.

“We welcome Francesco Milicia to Lamborghini as Marketing Director,” said Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “His managerial experience, gained in an environment of excellence such as Ducati, combined with the international vision and strategic expertise he has developed throughout his career, will make a valuable contribution to the further strengthening of the brand’s positioning and to supporting the development of our global marketing strategy.”

Holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bologna and a Master of Business Administration, Francesco Milicia completed his executive education across Europe and China at INSEAD, CEIBS and the London Business School.

After beginning his professional career at Ducati in the Operations area, from 2005 to 2012 he gained significant international experience holding various managerial positions in China within a multinational group. At the end of 2012, he returned to Ducati as Managing Director of Ducati Motor Thailand, where he led the implementation of a cutting-edge vertical production process. Returning to Italy in 2015, he joined the Ducati Board of Management as Purchasing Director, before taking on global responsibility for Sales and After Sales activities in 2018.

“Joining Automobili Lamborghini is an honor and a privilege,” said Francesco Milicia. “I have always admired the brand and I am thrilled to contribute to the journey of a company that inspires people around the world through innovation, audacity and uncompromising excellence. I look forward to working alongside the Lamborghini team, learning from their experience and contributing together to writing the next chapter of the brand’s growth and success.”

In his role as Marketing Director, Francesco Milicia will contribute to translating the vision and values of Automobili Lamborghini into marketing strategies capable of enhancing its uniqueness, its constant capacity for innovation, and the distinctive connection the brand creates with customers and enthusiasts around the world.

Alphabet and Tesla will headline this week’s earnings calendar, with investors looking beyond headline numbers to determine whether billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) investment are translating into sustainable growth, according to Josh Gilbert, Lead Market Analyst, APAC & Middle East at eToro.

“The Magnificent Seven have carried markets for the past two years, but investor patience is clearly wearing thinner,” said Gilbert. “The equal-weighted Magnificent Seven ETF has returned just 1.5% this year compared with 8.7% for the S&P 500, while recent weakness in semiconductor stocks has put AI spending firmly under the microscope.”

Alphabet: AI returns take center stage

Alphabet enters earnings following the strongest market reaction of any Magnificent Seven company last quarter, yet its shares have gained only 1.2% since reporting, well behind the broader market.

Consensus forecasts second-quarter revenue of around USD 117 billion, up 21% year-on-year, with earnings per share expected at USD 2.89.

“For Alphabet, Cloud remains the key growth engine,” Gilbert said. “Cloud revenue grew 63% in the first quarter, and the company’s AI infrastructure backlog has expanded dramatically. Investors will want to see that demand converting into recognized revenue.”

Markets are also expected to focus on Alphabet’s substantial investment program after the company increased annual capital expenditure guidance to USD 180–190 billion and signaled even higher spending next year.

“Three months ago investors were comfortable funding aggressive AI investment,” Gilbert added. “Today they’re asking tougher questions. Markets now want proof that this level of spending will generate durable returns.”

One bright spot remains Alphabet’s AI monetization strategy, with Gemini now exceeding 900 million monthly users.

“The big question is whether AI expands Google’s advertising opportunity or gradually cannibalizes it,” Gilbert said. “That’s likely to be one of the defining themes of this earnings report.”

Tesla: Margins matter more than deliveries

Tesla heads into earnings as the weakest-performing Magnificent Seven stock this year, down 18% year-to-date, despite reporting second-quarter deliveries well ahead of expectations.

The market expects Tesla to report USD 26.3 billion in revenue and earnings per share of USD 0.50.

“Strong deliveries weren’t enough to satisfy investors last quarter,” Gilbert said. “This time the focus shifts squarely to margins and whether the core automotive business remains healthy enough to fund Tesla’s increasingly ambitious AI strategy.”

Consensus expects automotive gross margins, excluding regulatory credits, of 19.5%, although investors will closely examine whether those margins are supported by underlying operations rather than one-off benefits.

“Tesla is increasingly valued as an AI and robotics company rather than simply a car manufacturer,” Gilbert said. “Investors are already paying today for businesses like Optimus and Cybercab, even though meaningful revenues remain several years away.”

With annual capital expenditure expected to reach USD 25 billion, Tesla is prioritizing long-term growth over near-term cash generation.

“Elon Musk has always encouraged investors to think in decades rather than quarters,” Gilbert concluded. “But with AI investment now facing greater scrutiny than at any point in this cycle, this earnings report will test just how much confidence investors still have in Tesla’s long-term vision.”

A Florida teen suing social-media platforms over claims their design led to mental health issues dropped his lawsuit against Meta Platforms ahead of a trial slated to begin next week in Los Angeles.

When Molly Taylor started taking Mounjaro in the fall of 2024, she marveled at the speed of results. She wasn’t overweight, but she hadn’t been comfortable in her body. Now, she could eat whatever she wanted, just in smaller portions, and people were complimenting her looks. She no longer felt self-conscious.

Then her mindset began to shift.

“I gradually started to worry about what I was eating, how many calories were in it, if it was going to stop me from losing more weight,” said the 23-year-old nanny, who is studying to be a nurse in London. “I think that’s when I was starting to develop anorexia.”

GLP-1s have been hailed as miracle drugs, their rise leading to critical breakthroughs in America’s fight against obesity. Roughly 13 million Americans are now on them, according to research from JPMorgan published in February. The drugs mimic naturally occurring hormones to suppress appetite and cravings and make people feel full. For those who’ve struggled with restrictive eating and anorexia, that can be a tantalizing proposition—and a dangerous one.

Anorexia kills a higher percentage of patients than any other eating disorder, and it is the second most deadly mental illness after opioid addiction, according to data compiled by the nonprofit National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

“I recovered from anorexia myself many years ago, and had this been on the market, I think I certainly would have tried to access it,” said Jennifer Rollin, therapist and founder of the Eating Disorder Center, which is based in Rockville, Md., and provides therapy for patients in seven states.

“Seeing all of the celebrities on the red carpet and so many friends and family members, kind of, bragging about weight loss—that has been a huge trigger for many of the clients I work with,” she said.

Rollin’s business has helped treat people with eating disorders who’ve obtained GLP-1 medications to suppress their appetites, as well as those who were triggered into disordered eating while taking the drugs for approved conditions.

The popularity of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, approved for use in 2017 to treat Type 2 diabetes, helped usher in a new wave of GLP-1 drugs that are helping people address chronic weight issues and related problems like sleep apnea and adverse cardiovascular events. Researchers are probing for other applications.

Some doctors say the drugs have as much potential to hurt people with certain eating disorders as to help people with others. The drugs have been used off-label to help with conditions like binge eating and bulimia, which are notoriously difficult to treat.

Jamie Thayer, 48, was prescribed Wegovy for weight loss. “It was like a miracle at first,” she said.

She weighed 240 pounds when she started taking the drug in March 2023, and she rapidly started to shed pounds. She also experienced very low energy, hair loss, severe dizziness, fainting spells from low blood sugar and brain fog. Her son, who had recovered from anorexia, shared his concern with her that Thanksgiving.

“I was really proud of my weight loss at that point,” said Thayer, a Title IX coordinator in Frederick, Md. “I thought I was doing a really good thing.”

When her insurance stopped covering brand-name GLP-1s, she started buying a compounded powder version from China and reconstituting it at home. Meanwhile, her eating became more disordered, governed by strict rules.

“I wouldn’t eat Monday or Tuesday, then on Wednesday I could get a pastry,” she said. “My shot would start to wear off around Saturday, so I usually got some calories on Saturday and Sunday.”

In July 2024, after losing 100 pounds, she checked into a residential treatment center in Connecticut, where she was diagnosed with atypical anorexia and, soon after, re-feeding syndrome, which endangers malnourished people who take on food too fast. She said it saved her life.

Sam DeCaro, director of clinical outreach and education at the Renfrew Center, described a common misconception: that undereating is fine for people who are not considered underweight. In fact, it can be a sign of atypical anorexia, where someone has all the hallmarks of anorexia but is not underweight by body-mass index standards.

“Their undernourishment is causing them all these medical issues, heart issues,” DeCaro said. “It affects every system in the body.”

The rise of telehealth has made it easier than ever for people to obtain pharmaceuticals. Taylor, the nanny in London, said she submitted a doctored photograph of herself that made her look heavier to obtain her prescription. Jessica Scheer, CEO of National Eating Disorders Association, said the organization has heard that some providers don’t screen for a history of disordered eating before prescribing GLP-1s.

The makers of popular GLP-1 drugs have condemned the use of their medications for cosmetic weight loss. The medications don’t warn against using the drugs if you have a history of eating disorders. As with all prescriptions, it is up to care providers to determine whether a medication is right for a particular patient.

“We support our medicines being prescribed to patients who meet the indicated criteria and only promote the FDA-approved indications of our medicines for appropriate patients,” a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said in a statement.

“Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority,” an Eli Lilly spokesperson said in a statement. “As part of our routine safety review process for obesity management and Type 2 diabetes medications, we are working closely with regulators regarding potential safety topics, and we will continue to review data, including any data regarding eating disorders.”

Taylor, who began injecting in October 2024, was hospitalized in May 2025, soon after returning from a vacation. She’d gone about two weeks without eating, and her weight had dropped from 147 pounds to 103.

“I had to slowly re-feed myself and also get all my electrolytes and everything replenished,” she said. She didn’t tell the hospital about her GLP-1 use. “I wanted to carry on losing weight.”

When Mounjaro became harder to get, she sought out the medication through a friend of a friend. This January, she stopped the injections and began going to eating disorder treatment several times a week.

“I still struggle massively, and my weight has continued to go down,” she said. She currently weighs 88 pounds and plans to seek inpatient treatment, as soon as a room becomes available.

Saudi Arabia stands out in the GCC for its regulatory maturity and AI readiness, according to a new report from Coursera, which finds that the Kingdom is embedding AI literacy into its national strategy to support economic growth, workforce upskilling, and responsible AI adoption. Initiatives such as the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI), which links national competitiveness to large-scale AI and digital skills development, underscore Saudi Arabia’s advanced policy framework and long-term commitment to AI-driven growth.

The report, Navigating GCC AI Regulation: A Playbook for Building an AI-Literate & Compliant Workforce, examines the regulatory landscape in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. It highlights a distinctive regional approach in which AI literacy is treated not as a standalone skills initiative, but as a strategic pillar that helps organizations meet governance mandates while strengthening the capabilities needed to realize digital transformation ambitions.

Unlike many approaches to AI regulation in Europe and North America, where talent development and policymaking often progress independently, Saudi Arabia’s approach directly links AI literacy to the national goals of Vision 2030, positioning digital skills and workforce preparedness as core drivers of economic diversification.

Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: “In Saudi Arabia, successful AI adoption is fundamentally dependent on having a workforce equipped with the skills to use these technologies responsibly. With foundational AI proficiency becoming a critical driver for both regulatory readiness and organizational resilience, businesses that proactively prioritize upskilling will be better positioned to navigate evolving regulations, accelerate innovation, and unlock AI’s full value.”

The report notes that organizations are increasingly expected to integrate regulatory requirements into their AI systems, processes, and learning programs from the outset, rather than addressing compliance after deployment. This includes role-based training tailored to privacy obligations, cybersecurity standards, and model governance expectations.

Saudi Arabia is also translating its strategy into action through nationwide initiatives. The Kingdom’s national AI curriculum, introduced in 2025, is reaching six million students and includes guidance on the responsible use of Generative AI (GenAI). Meanwhile, SDAIA’s SAMAI initiative aims to train one million Saudis, with more than half a million already registered. Public-private partnerships are also helping expand access to AI training, with national programs targeting millions of individuals by 2030.

Organizations that fail to invest in AI literacy risk widening internal skills gaps and signaling misalignment with government objectives. In Saudi Arabia, where the government plays a central role as both regulator and a leading adopter of AI, this can affect compliance readiness, procurement opportunities, and long-term competitiveness.

To help businesses respond, the report outlines nine best practices for building an AI-literate workforce. These include embedding AI literacy into governance structures rather than treating it solely as a learning function, assessing AI-related risks and capability gaps, and ensuring learning programs reflect emerging regulatory guidelines.

A central recommendation is to align AI training with Saudization goals and broader workforce planning. By connecting AI upskilling to national talent priorities, companies can strengthen government relationships, support local expertise development, and drive sustainable business value. The report also emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning as technologies advance and regulatory expectations evolve.

Introduced in 1963, one of the world’s most iconic on-screen cars, the Aston Martin DB5, became synonymous with British culture, design, and innovation, firmly establishing Aston Martin as one of Britain’s most desirable luxury brands. Today, Aston Martin and Breitling proudly bring that shared legacy to the wrist with the Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5, presented in three distinct limited editions.

In the 1960s, the Top Time was Breitling’s unconventional chronograph, created for a new, youthful, speed-driven audience. When a Top Time ref. 2002 appeared on Sean Connery’s wrist in Thunderball (1965), worn alongside the Aston Martin DB5, two icons of the era shared a defining moment in design history. It marked the first Q-modified watch in the James Bond series, and a chapter where speed and style found a common language.

That moment is reinterpreted here through material and form. Wood-inlayed details, hand-colored gradient leather straps, and refined dial executions echo the interiors of the Aston Martin DB5. The result is a watch that captures the feel of being behind the wheel of Aston Martin’s classic grand tourer.

“The Aston Martin DB5 is one of those rare designs that never fades. It still feels as relevant today as it did in the 1960s,” says Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands (Universal Genève, Breitling, and Gallet). “With this Top Time, we capture that sense of timeless style.”

Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin adds: “These editions represent something truly distinct from anything we’ve created before. The collaboration with Breitling brought together two brands with a shared appreciation for timeless design, craftsmanship, and innovation, allowing us to exchange ideas in a way that felt both natural and ambitious. Inspired by the enduring elegance of the Aston Martin DB5 and our shared heritage of iconic design, the watch captures a balance of beauty, precision, and performance. Every detail has been carefully considered to reflect the character and authenticity synonymous with both brands. The result is a watch that feels contemporary today, yet timeless for generations to come.”

Inspired by the timeless elegance of the Aston Martin DB5, every detail of the Top Time Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 brings together two design legacies: the tactile richness of Aston Martin interiors and the modern-retro codes of the Top Time. The cushion-shaped case, grooved corners, and mushroom pushers recall the distinctive profile of the 1960s chronograph, while the “squircle” subdials capture the look of classic car dashboard gauges.

A wooden inner ring draws on the DB5’s steering wheel, and the hand-colored gradient leather strap reflects the depth and tone of fine automotive upholstery. Together, these elements create a watch shaped with the same attention to detail.

“This chronograph blends form with true function,” says Breitling’s Head of Product Design Pablo Widmer. “As with the Aston Martin DB5, its beauty lies in its lines, materials, and finishings.”

The collection is offered in three editions:

• Stainless steel with a silver dial, limited to 1,022 pieces, offers a balanced take that’s closest in spirit to the original Top Time ref. 2002.
• Steel and platinum with a black lacquered dial, limited to 315 pieces, introduces contrast and depth, with the platinum bezel adding weight and presence against the high-gloss black surface.
• 18k red gold with onyx dial, limited to 250 individually numbered pieces, brings an even more elevated expression. The dial is cut from natural onyx, the first use of the stone by Breitling, revealing a unique depth and luster.

Across all three, the design details translate the Aston Martin DB5’s interior craftsmanship into a contemporary chronograph.

Manufacture performance

The engine of the watch is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, a COSC-certified chronograph movement designed for precision and reliability. Its column-wheel architecture and vertical clutch ensure smooth, accurate operation, while a 70-hour power reserve supports extended wear.

Visible through the open sapphire-crystal caseback, the movement is finished with a dedicated Aston Martin–engraved rotor – rhodium-plated or 18k red gold, depending on the version. Each edition pairs this performance with a design language rooted in one of the most recognizable cars ever made.

The Top Time Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 revisits a moment when two distinct approaches to design aligned. One shaped in performance and proportion, the other in precision and form. Together, they continue to be markers of style, that stand the test of time.

Ninety minutes of the World Cup final had come and gone, and Argentina—the defending champion, unbeaten at any major tournament since 2019, and blessed by the existence of Lionel Messi—hadn’t managed a single shot.

And yet, on a baking afternoon in front of a hostile crowd, a vastly superior Spain couldn’t find a way to punish them. Even when Argentina was reduced to 10 men, the wave of Spanish jerseys kept crashing into the same resolute defense. Nerves crept in, and as the match entered extra time, Spain began to fear that this final would go down as un robo, a robbery.

Instead, it will be retold as something far more epic than that. This was the day when Spain downed Argentina 1-0 and won the World Cup for the second time.

“Even against 10 men at the end we had to suffer,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “But, we like to suffer, and I’ll say it again, we were prepared for everything.”

Sixteen years after first lifting the trophy in South Africa, La Roja demonstrated without a doubt that no country commands the world’s most popular sport quite like Spain. With an approach so complete, so technically sound that its players look permanently untroubled, they have shown the world how it looks when cool competence is elevated to high art.

It’s no coincidence that Spain is now a simultaneous Olympic, European, and world champion, or that it currently holds both the men’s and women’s World Cups. This is a nation that has worked out how to develop soccer players as plentifully as it grows oranges and lemons.

When the breakthrough finally came, it arrived with Spain’s 20th shot of the match. After 104 games, the largest World Cup in history had required an extra half-hour to decide its champion and now, in the 16th minute of extra time, Ferran Torres was the man to enter the history books. After a high ball to the back post, headed down by Nico Williams, the 26-year-old Torres lashed it home.

This was the one effort that Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who set a World Cup final record for saves, couldn’t keep out.

But if Spain’s tactics revolved around control, patience, and invention, Argentina’s approach to Sunday focused more squarely on intimidation. And with a permissive referee running the show, Argentina took every inch of latitude—at least until Enzo Fernandez was ejected in second-half stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Over 120 minutes, the defending champions produced just one shot on target but committed 25 fouls. And Messi found himself with precious little to work with—in the first 15 minutes, he had touched the ball just once on the opening kickoff.

Back in 2010, the Netherlands had tried a similar tack against Spain in a World Cup final. Faced with a peak version of the pretty-passing, high-possession, tiki-taka style, the Dutch realized that they simply couldn’t out-soccer La Roja. Their response was to make the match as physical as possible and hope for the best. That time, Spain found a winner in the 26th minute of extra time.

On Sunday, the decisive moment arrived slightly earlier, as the center of the soccer universe migrated to an NFL bowl in a New Jersey parking lot. All at once, it contained President Trump, the King of Spain, and half the royalty of American entertainment.

Mostly, though, the stands heaved with fans from Argentina. Just as they did in Qatar—and more recently in Atlanta and Dallas and Kansas City—supporters in sky blue and white swarmed the stadium, outnumbering Spain fans by at least three-to-one. This is a country where adoration of the national team is so fervent that many fans build their financial planning around the World Cup, taking out loans to buy tickets every four years. It’s also the country with the most psychologists per capita in the world. These facts are perhaps not unrelated.

“The fans are absolutely crazy, different to other countries,” Argentina’s Martinez said before the game. “Seeing them celebrate at 2 a.m. in the cold Argentine weather means a lot.”

But there would be no repeat of those scenes on Sunday night as it lost a World Cup final for the fourth time in its history. Instead, Argentina could only look on as Messi’s World Cup career came to a close with his second defeat in three finals, 12 years after losing his first against Germany.

Only now, the country that defined Messi’s club career over two decades at FC Barcelona, was the one doling out the punishment.

BMW is expanding its digital customer communications by making its vehicle configurator available directly via OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Using the BMW plugin in ChatGPT, customers can now engage in a natural conversation to configure their dream car. The plugin combines the dialogue capabilities of generative AI with the BMW product and configuration knowledge base, and is available on both mobile devices and desktop computers.

Dialogues rather than menu navigation.

Generative artificial intelligence is changing the way people search for information online and make decisions. Dialogue-based systems are increasingly replacing traditional navigation via search engines or websites. Picking up on this trend, BMW is the first car manufacturer to offer digital vehicle advice directly via ChatGPT.

Generative AI meets BMW knowledge base.

The BMW plugin in ChatGPT is focused on AI dialogues. Instead of step-by-step navigation through menus and submenus, users describe their requirements in natural language – for example, in terms of spaciousness, ground clearance, powertrain or intended use. They are then given suggestions of suitable models and configurations based on this information. This also makes it very easy to compare different configurations.

The recommendations can be adjusted, compared and refined at any time in the dialogue. Factors like running costs, driving dynamics, colour, model or all-wheel drive can be specifically taken into account during the consultation. For complex specification requirements in particular, dialogue-based interaction opens up new, easy and intuitive ways to refine individual vehicle configurations. The desired vehicle specification can then be opened in the BMW Configurator. Customers can also view stock vehicles that have a similar spec.

All recommendations are based on the latest BMW Configurator data. Should any questions arise that go beyond its database, ChatGPT can also access up-to-date information from the internet, to the extent the relevant functions are available and enabled.

Easy access via ChatGPT.

The BMW plugin is integrated directly into ChatGPT. On chatgpt.com, it can be accessed by going to the “Plugins” menu item and then searching for “BMW”. On mobile devices, access is much the same when logged in, via the “Plugins” option in the main menu.

When Kathryn Truman’s son Sawyer enrolled in kindergarten, she was surprised to discover his school only gave him 20 minutes of recess a day. The 40-year-old nurse worried he wouldn’t get enough of a mental and physical break.

Truman wasn’t the only one who felt this way. She teamed with other parents to help revive recess throughout Tennessee, which went on to pass a law last year requiring at least 40 minutes of recess in elementary schools. Now, Truman is looking to expand recess in middle schools and helps lead a nonprofit—Say Yes to Recess—with chapters in 20 states.

“Of course we want our kids to be good at math and reading, but what kind of people will they grow up to be? That’s determined at recess,” said Truman, explaining the benefits for children’s social development.

Mothers and fathers nationwide are alarmed by dwindling recess time and calling upon school administrators to restore it. In New Hampshire and Michigan, parents have had success increasing recess in some schools and are pushing for state laws mandating it. In New York, some parents say a bill backed by the statewide teachers union requiring up to 30 minutes of daily, unstructured recess time in elementary school doesn’t go far enough.

In Michigan, Shanel Talbert said she got involved in the fight for recess when her daughter’s elementary school reduced it last year. While her daughter wasn’t struggling academically, Talbert could see that she was burned out from her seven-hour school day.

Talbert and other parents launched a petition, calling for at least 60 minutes of recess, that has garnered over 1,300 signatures. They are working with a state legislator on a bill that would require 40 minutes of recess in elementary school, which Talbert said they thought was more likely to pass.

Morning and afternoon recesses were common in U.S. elementary schools during the post-World War II decades. But as pressure mounted on schools to improve test performance in the 2000s, many reduced or eliminated recess in favor of more instructional time in subjects such as reading and math. States often prescribe minimum instructional hours, and recess generally doesn’t count.

Chicago Public Schools was among the first big-city school districts to restore daily recess in 2012, after many of its elementary schools did away with it. But the effort was slow to catch on broadly.

Pediatricians have been sounding the alarm, saying recess has both mental and physical benefits. In May, the American Academy of Pediatrics expanded its endorsement of recess beyond elementary schools to include middle and high schools. Research suggests that at least 20 minutes a day with multiple breaks is best, the AAP says.

Catherine Ramstetter, co-author of that recommendation, said recess helps children remember information and learn better. It also allows young children to develop interpersonal skills.

Ramstetter upholds the Finnish model in which students typically get 15 minutes of recess multiple times a day. “The importance of recess as time to connect with one another cannot be understated,” she said. “Adults ideally are not intervening in the play but close by so they can intervene when necessary.”

In Oklahoma, legislators recently pushed for more recess time as part of an effort to improve learning and test results that has also included banning cellphones during school and emphasizing phonics, according to Republican state Sen. Ally Seifried.

Seifried drafted a law that passed in April requiring 40 minutes of daily recess in kindergarten through fifth grade, up from 20 minutes. “Parents who had little boys definitely recognized the importance of this,” she said.

Krissy West, a school physical therapist and mother from New Hampshire, started advocating for more recess last year, after seeing her daughter Daisy get overwhelmed, sometimes resulting in tantrums after school.

“She would say that [her] whole body is just ready to run,” said West. As a coping mechanism later on, her daughter, now 10 years old, would ask the teacher for permission to take bathroom breaks, time she would then use to take a walk through the hallways.

A bill West championed, which would have required 45 to 60 minutes of recess for K-6 students, was defeated on New Hampshire’s House floor earlier this year amid concerns it would violate existing teacher contracts by requiring extra staff.

The “Say Yes to Recess” initiative calls for at least 60 minutes of screen-free time daily when children get to pick their activities, and that it isn’t withheld as punishment. The hourlong recommendation is based on research from Texas Christian University on the optimal time needed for children to reduce stress and anxiety, improve test scores and fight obesity.

West and other parents have helped push for change locally at Valley View Community School in Farmington, N.H. This past academic year, the elementary school added a 25-minute recess block starting from 7:30 a.m., when parents can drop their children off. The start of classes was moved 10 minutes later to help accommodate it.

West said recess first thing in the day isn’t ideal and noted part of it became optional in practice because some children wouldn’t arrive until later. But she is encouraged that the school is trying to find solutions.

The school’s principal, Mark Dangora, said adding more downtime is still a work in progress. He is trying to bring daily recess time to a total of 50-55 minutes. Losing a bit of class time, so far, hasn’t affected learning, he said.

“Children need play,” said Dangora.

KnowBe4, a leader in digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans, today announced it has signed a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help organizations worldwide adapt to an evolving cybersecurity landscape, while simplifying how they procure, deploy and scale security solutions.

As cyber threats become more sophisticated and AI adoption accelerates, workforces are expanding to include both humans and AI agents. At the same time, security teams are under pressure to improve outcomes and operate more efficiently. By accessing KnowBe4’s industry-leading portfolio in AWS Marketplace, customers can streamline procurement and accelerate deployment at a time when speed is more critical than ever.

“Today’s workforce consists of both humans and AI agents working side by side, and securing both is the defining challenge of this moment,” said Marco Muto, SVP of Strategy at KnowBe4. “This agreement reflects a shared commitment from KnowBe4 and AWS to meet that challenge together. We’re jointly investing in the go-to-market, our technology, and the broader industry ecosystem to ensure our customers have what they need to stay ahead of an evolving threat landscape. When two industry leaders align around a common mission, customers win.”

KnowBe4 will collaborate with AWS on global go-to-market initiatives, sales enablement and customer adoption programs designed to help organizations proactively manage risk across their evolving workforce while simplifying procurement in AWS Marketplace. It also creates new opportunities for KnowBe4’s global ecosystem of channel partners, helping to align security investments with broader cloud strategies.

Abu Dhabi will welcome healthcare innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers, and technology leaders when Revive ME 2026 returns to ADNEC Marina on 11–12 November 2026, bringing together the latest advances in longevity science, regenerative medicine, biotechnology, AI-powered healthcare, and personalised wellness.

Positioned as the Middle East’s premier longevity and health technology exhibition and conference, the two-day event aims to showcase how scientific breakthroughs and emerging technologies are transforming the future of healthy ageing. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, Revive ME 2026 will provide a platform for collaboration between clinicians, startups, investors, research institutions, healthcare providers, and government stakeholders to accelerate innovation across the sector.

Visitors can expect an extensive exhibition featuring next-generation health technologies, live product demonstrations, expert-led conference sessions, startup showcases, networking opportunities, and discussions exploring the future of preventive healthcare, precision medicine, regenerative therapies, digital health, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. The event is designed to foster partnerships that drive innovation while addressing one of healthcare’s fastest-growing global priorities: extending healthy lifespan.

As governments and private sector organisations continue investing in healthcare innovation, events such as Revive ME reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for medical technology, life sciences, and future-focused healthcare solutions. By bringing together global experts under one roof, the exhibition seeks to encourage knowledge exchange, investment, and cross-sector collaboration that can shape the next generation of health and wellness technologies.

Registration for Revive ME 2026 is now open.

Paramount Skydance won’t be able to buy Warner Bros. Discovery without a fight.

King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al Baha Region, one of the airports operated by Cluster2 Airports, served nearly 700,000 passengers on domestic flights between the beginning of 2025 and the end of the first half of 2026, reflecting continued growth in air travel across the region, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The strong passenger traffic underscores the airport’s growing role in supporting domestic connectivity and facilitating travel to and from Al Baha, as Saudi Arabia continues to invest in modernizing its aviation infrastructure and enhancing regional accessibility.

During the same period, the airport achieved two significant international recognitions from Airports Council International (ACI). It was awarded the Level 1 Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation, recognizing its efforts to improve accessibility and create a more inclusive travel experience for all passengers, including people with disabilities and those with reduced mobility.

In addition, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport received the Level 2 Airport Customer Experience Accreditation, reflecting its commitment to continuously improving passenger satisfaction through enhanced services, operational efficiency, and customer-focused initiatives.

The latest milestones reinforce the airport’s efforts to align with international aviation standards while supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader objectives of strengthening the quality, accessibility, and competitiveness of its airport network.