McDonald’s eyes big expansion
The company plans about $2.5bn in capital expenditures in 2024.
- McDonald's will seek to effectively grow its network of namesake sites by about one quarter in what it called the speediest expansion in the brand history
- For CosMc's - which McDonald's executives had teased in July - the company plans an initial store in Chicago in 2024 and nine others in Texas
Business
Volkswagen to reduce workforce
Volkswagen has some 675,800 employees worldwide.
- "Over the coming years, we will need to reduce our workforce in a socially responsible way," the group's human resources chief Gunnar Kilian said
- The focus would be on "partial retirement and early retirement schemes to the maximum extent possible," he added
Business
BAT takes shock $32bn hit
The impairment charge sent BAT shares sinking 7.6 percent.
- Companies like BAT face plunging demand for cigarettes in Western markets, where high taxes, smoking bans and health fears persuade many consumers to give up smoking
- The London-listed company added that its overall revenue growth for the current year was set to be at the "low end" of its previous guidance of between 3 and 5 percent
Musk’s AI startup to raise $1bn
He hopes it will compete with ChatGPT's Open AI.
- An official filing to US Securities and Exchange Commission said xAI artificial intelligence company had already gathered $134.7 million and plans to raise $1 billion overall
- The filing added that there was a firm agreement to raise the full funds needed to meet the target, indicating that Musk may have deals in place for the full billion
Business
Tawzea, NWC ink pacts
The companies have signed two agreements.
- Tawzea is a 50:50 joint venture between Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co and Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co.
- Under the first contract, Tawzea will operate and maintain the water network in Makkah and its governorates.
Business
Mubadala invests in Zenobē
The investment is aimed at powering 4,000 electric vehicles.
- The collective investment aims to power 4,000 electric buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles, contributing to the global transition to cleaner transportation by 2026.
- London-based Zenobē, established in 2017, specializes in electric vehicle (EV) fleet solutions and large-scale battery storage.
Business
Turkish Airlines, Riyadh Air ink MoU
The pact will benefit customers of both the airlines.
- The establishment of Riyadh Air is in line with PIF’s mandate to unlock the capabilities of key sectors locally to drive the diversification of Saudi Arabia’s economy.
- The airline will support the Saudi Aviation Strategy's broader vision, and enable the National Tourism Strategy, unlocking Saudi Arabia's cultural and natural attractions.
Business
Spotify cuts 17% jobs
Spotify has invested over $1 billion into podcasts alone.
- Spotify in October posted a rare quarterly operating profit of 32 million euros ($34.60m), compared to a loss of 228 million ($246.54m) for the same period a year earlier
- Spotify has invested heavily since its launch to fuel growth with expansions into new markets and, in later years, exclusive content such as podcasts
Business
HPDC, HDC ink agreement
The aim is to stimulate the growth of the halal industry.
- The two companies will exchange information on industry-leading practices and successful models of halal ecosystems.
- The agreement will broaden the scope of collaboration by facilitating engagement with halal exporters and investors.
Business
Masdar, Taaleri acquire 8 energy projects
The hybrid renewable energy projects in Poland have 1Gw capacity.
- Masdar and Taaleria have purchased the projects from Domrel Biuro Usług Inwestycyjnych, a prominent player in Poland's renewable energy sector.
- These projects incorporate solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind technologies and are projected to power approximately 223,000 households.
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BYD surpasses Tesla with record revenue
The Chinese EV giant's net profit was $5.55 billion for 2024.
- The Shenzhen-based firm has emerged in recent years as the clear leader in China's highly competitive EV market, which is the largest in the world.
- BYD's publication of strong results comes after Tesla announced lower than expected profits for the fourth quarter of 2024 in late January.
Business
Al Ansari approves $85m dividend
This is approx 78% of the company's net profit after tax.
- Al Ansari Financial Services is preparing to finalize the acquisition of BFC Group Holding for AED 735 million, a move that will significantly expand its regional footprint.
- Post-acquisition, the company will emerge as the largest exchange company in Bahrain and the third largest in Kuwait.
Business
Perplexity eyes TikTok buy
TikTok faces a deadline to divest from its Chinese owner or be banned in the US.
- TikTok temporarily shut down in the United States and disappeared from app stores as the deadline for the law approached, to the dismay of millions of users.
- Trump suspended its implementation for two-and-a-half months after beginning his second term in January, seeking a solution with Beijing.