FLOW

Djibouti has called on the international community to provide assistance as the war in Yemen pushes a growing flow of refugees and migrants across the Red Sea to its shores. The small Horn of Africa nation says it is struggling to cope with the influx, and is seeking support for shelter, food and aid services for those fleeing the conflict.

Classified estimates indicate the National Security Agency is paying billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models, according to a new report. The figures suggest US intelligence agencies are pouring major funding into evaluating advanced AI systems, sparking debate about surveillance implications, government oversight, and the scale of public money flowing into AI development.

The European Union has called on member countries to reduce their gas consumption as concerns grow over supply. The request reflects fears that gas flows may become insufficient, and it asks national governments to take measures lowering demand. The move is drawing wide attention across Europe as countries weigh how to respond and what it means for households and industry.

World Rivers Day is drawing attention to the worsening state of the world's rivers, with many suffering from shrinking flows, drought and overuse. Coverage is focusing on why waterways are 'running on empty' and what declining river health means for ecosystems, agriculture and the communities that depend on them.

China has introduced new travel rules that are causing concern among major technology companies and their employees, particularly those working in artificial intelligence and other high-tech fields. The measures are reported to affect the movement of expertise and capital, raising questions about how firms and skilled workers will operate, with observers warning of growing uncertainty for the country's tech sector.

Egypt has dispatched its 284th 'Zad Al-Izzah' aid convoy to Gaza, carrying more than 2,794 tons of food, medical and relief supplies for the territory's population. The convoy is part of an ongoing Egyptian humanitarian operation that has run throughout the conflict, as international pressure grows to keep aid flowing into the besieged enclave.

The Wall Street Journal examines warning signs that could indicate the current artificial intelligence investment boom is heading toward a bust. The piece weighs the enormous capital flowing into AI infrastructure against questions about sustainable returns, reviving comparisons to past technology bubbles such as the dot-com crash.

Iran is exploring moving its oil and trade flows north to Caspian Sea routes as the war and US pressure impair shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for most of its crude exports. Analysts question whether Caspian corridors, reliant on limited ports and neighbouring states' cooperation, can realistically replace the Gulf route at scale.

Iraq and the United States have agreed to resume shipments of US dollar cash into Iraq, according to Middle East Monitor. The agreement eases a disruption that had affected dollar supplies to Iraqi banks and the local currency market, where the greenback is widely used for trade and savings. Observers are watching whether the renewed flows will stabilise the Iraqi dinar and relieve pressure on the country's financial system.

The Central Bank has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its foreign exchange regulations, aimed at easing bottlenecks in international trade. The reforms are expected to simplify currency access for importers and exporters and improve the flow of hard currency through official channels. Details of the specific measures and their timeline have not yet been fully disclosed.

UBS has offered its view on whether the Federal Reserve's tightening cycle represents a turning point for emerging market assets. The question of how higher US rates affect capital flows to developing economies is a recurring concern for investors, and the bank's assessment is being circulated among market watchers tracking the impact on EM currencies, bonds and equities.

Kenyan President William Ruto is calling for a sweeping reform of the global financial architecture, arguing that current systems block developing countries from accessing affordable climate finance. He says unlocking green capital pipelines is essential for African nations to fund renewable energy and climate adaptation, and has urged international lenders and wealthy states to restructure lending rules and expand climate funding flows.

Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Iran concerning the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping chokepoint for global oil flows. Details of what the proposal entailed and the terms of the rejection remain limited, but the move adds new tension to the standoff between Washington and Tehran, with observers watching closely for how Iran responds and what it means for shipping and oil markets.

Iraq has resumed oil trucking operations after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted tanker shipments, a key export route for its crude. Baghdad is relying on overland routes and its pipeline through Turkey to keep oil moving while the vital waterway remains shut. The move highlights how the closure is reshaping global energy flows.

The Premier League has put forward a New Deal proposal that would more than double solidarity payments to EFL clubs, but the offer comes with conditions attached. The plan would significantly increase the money flowing from the top flight to lower-division English football, though the strings attached are likely to shape negotiations between the two bodies.

California is looking to turn a potentially wet El Niño winter into an opportunity, pursuing efforts to capture stormwater from the big storms expected to hit the state. Officials want to store runoff to recharge groundwater supplies and boost reservoirs, rather than letting it flow out to sea, as drought-strained water systems seek any advantage from the pattern.

Investors are weighing whether IBM's long-standing dividend can hold up as the company shifts from its legacy hardware and services business toward software, cloud and artificial intelligence. The payout endured decades of upheaval at the old IBM, but analysts are asking whether the new, faster-growing yet still-transitioning company will generate the cash flow needed to keep it intact.

Inflows of foreign capital into US equities have reached a record high, even as overseas investors pull back from US debt, according to Financial Times reporting. The shift suggests international money is chasing American stocks while showing declining appetite for Treasuries and other fixed-income assets, a rebalancing with potential implications for both equity valuations and US borrowing costs.

Syria's state news agency reports the country expects more than $1 billion in foreign capital to flow into newly established banks. The announcement signals an effort to rebuild the war-damaged financial sector and attract international investment. With banking flagged as a growing topic, observers are watching whether foreign lenders will commit funds and how new institutions will operate under Syria's current economic conditions.

A new AI model is being used to monitor illicit activity on the Bitcoin network, as researchers say criminal transactions have evolved from simple transfers into complex, hidden networks designed to evade detection. The development highlights growing interest in machine learning tools for tracing money laundering and other illegal flows in cryptocurrency markets.

A Brookings Institution researcher argues that the current AI buildout will amount to the largest infrastructure investment bet in United States history, surpassing previous eras of massive spending on railroads, highways, and telecommunications. The claim underscores the enormous scale of capital flowing into data centers, chips, and energy capacity to support artificial intelligence development.

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces is reportedly extracting transit fees from oil flowing through Heglig, where production has reached 26,000 barrels per day. The development highlights how the paramilitary group is monetising control of key oil infrastructure during the country's civil war, raising questions about the future of Sudan's oil revenues, which are vital to both the state budget and exports via South Sudan's pipeline network.

A New York Times opinion piece examines what could happen if the current boom in artificial intelligence investment turns out to be a bubble that bursts. The column weighs the enormous sums flowing into A.I. companies against uncertain returns, and considers the economic fallout if optimism about the technology proves overblown.