The UAE’s OPEC exit will hit the group in the barrels
After just shy of 60 years in OPEC, its membership even predating its status as a nation-state, the United Arab Emirates yesterday announced its shocking departure from the oil production group, effective May 1, as the knock-on effects of the Iran war continue to play out across the Middle East and the energy landscape.
For context, the UAE produces the third-highest amount of oil in the group, per April data and OPEC’s latest set of annual statistics.
According to the cartel’s 2025 Annual Statistical Bulletin, the OPEC group was collectively exporting some 19 million barrels of crude oil a day last year, with the United Arab Emirates accounting for some 14% of that daily output.
UAExit means UAExit
The nation, whose energy minister told Reuters yesterday that the decision was taken “after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production” and wasn’t made following discussions with any other country, made up a healthy share of the group’s total confirmed crude oil reserves, as well.
Of the 12 nations in the core group, which was founded by just five oil superpowers back in September 1960, only two (Iraq and Saudi Arabia) exported more barrels of crude oil daily, pumping out 3.36 million and 6.05 million barrels, respectively, each day to nations around the world.
For its part, the UAE said it will “continue its responsible role by gradually and thoughtfully increasing production, in line with demand and market conditions,” per the official state news agency. Clearly, the nation now wants a little more control of just how much oil it can pump around the world, with the UAE having to eat a large proportion of lost revenues due to its healthy abundance and OPEC restrictions.
According to the cartel’s 2025 Annual Statistical Bulletin, the OPEC group was collectively exporting some 19 million barrels of crude oil a day last year, with the United Arab Emirates accounting for some 14% of that daily output.
UAExit means UAExit
The nation, whose energy minister told Reuters yesterday that the decision was taken “after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production” and wasn’t made following discussions with any other country, made up a healthy share of the group’s total confirmed crude oil reserves, as well.
Of the 12 nations in the core group, which was founded by just five oil superpowers back in September 1960, only two (Iraq and Saudi Arabia) exported more barrels of crude oil daily, pumping out 3.36 million and 6.05 million barrels, respectively, each day to nations around the world.
For its part, the UAE said it will “continue its responsible role by gradually and thoughtfully increasing production, in line with demand and market conditions,” per the official state news agency. Clearly, the nation now wants a little more control of just how much oil it can pump around the world, with the UAE having to eat a large proportion of lost revenues due to its healthy abundance and OPEC restrictions.
Google searches for “roman numerals” hit a new peak this Super Bowl
Following on from last year’s Super Bowl LIX, and Super Bowl LVIII before that, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the title “Super Bowl LX” might have created less confusion than previous iterations.
But it seems that the archaic notation denoting this year’s Big Game was no exception: monthly search volumes for “roman numerals” in the US were at the highest volume seen in over two decades this February, according to Google Trends data.
If people in shoulder pads throwing around a weirdly shaped ball is your Roman Empire, one thing you have to know is Roman numerals — or join the millions who turn to Google to work out how to read them every Super Bowl season.
Ironically, according to the NFL, the numbering system was adopted for clarity, as the game is played at the start of the year “following a chronologically recorded season.” And so, over its 60-year history, the NFL has labeled almost every Super Bowl with a selection of capital letters like X’s, I’s, and V’s — one of the rare exceptions being Super Bowl 50 in 2016, when the NFL ad designers felt Super Bowl L was too unmarketable.
At least stumped football fans in 2026 will be faring much better than those in the year 12,965 would be, who’d have to refer to the Big Game as Super Bowl (breathes in) MMMMMMMMMMDCCCCLXXXXVIIII.
UK prime minister vows to take action against Elon Musk’s X over AI-generated images of minors, as Grok limits image generation to paid users
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “take action” against Elon Musk’s X over its AI tool Grok producing sexualized images of children.
Speaking on Thursday, the UK premier called the images “unlawful” and urged the social media platform to “get their act together and get this material down,” as public outrage mounts over Grok generating explicit deepfakes on X.
Charting six major trends to keep watching in 2026
We’ve made a lot of charts this year — here are some of the biggest trends of 2025 and where we think they might go in the 12 months ahead. And no, it’s not just about AI.
