Jobs and investment top MENA expectations from multinational firms, Ipsos finds
As geopolitical turbulence grows, companies are increasingly at the mercy of forces beyond corporate leadership’s control.
Economy
A matchmaking made in Gulf Heaven
The Gulf combines an interrelated web of business habitats and tech infrastructure to create rapid, policy-driven media and knowledge hubs...
Economy
Business
Cambridge study warns of perils in AI-driven ‘intention economy’
London, United Kingdom -- Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tools may soon "covertly influence" users' decision making in a new commercial frontier...
- The marketplace emerging for "digital signals of intent" could, in the near future, influence everything from buying movie tickets to voting for political candidates.
- Our increasing familiarity with chatbots, digital tutors and other so-called "anthropomorphic" AI agents is helping enable this new array of "persuasive technologies".
Geostrategy
20-day-old baby Jumaa al-Batran dies from ‘severe cold’ in Gaza
Marwan al-Hamas, head of field hospitals in Gaza, confirmed the death. He said it brought to five the total number...
- Jumaa's twin brother remains in the intensive care unit at a local hospital, the health ministry in territory said.
- "There is no electricity. The water is cold and there is no gas, heating or food," said Yahya al-Batran, the father of the child.
Business
Egypt tests Suez Canal extension aimed at boosting vessel capacity
Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal as it tries to minimize the...
- Vessels navigating the waterway have at times run aground, mostly because of strong winds and sandstorms.
- The new extension is set to boost the canal's capacity by six to eight vessels a day, Rabie said, and it will open after new navigational maps are issued.
Business
SHUAA okays MCB tranches
The two tranches will be converted into equity at the earliest opportunity.
- The first tranche, valued at up to AED150 million, will be offered to existing shareholders through a private placement.
- The second tranche, valued at up to AED275.5 million, will be offered to holders of existing bonds issued by a SHUAA-related special-purpose entity under the same conversion terms.
Geostrategy
Israeli raid puts last major Gaza health facility out of service: WHO
The World Health Organization said the operation had put the "last major health facility in north Gaza out of service"....
- The WHO said 60 health workers and 25 patients in critical condition, including some on ventilators, reportedly remained in Kamal Adwan Hospital.
- Patients in less severe condition were forced to evacuate to the destroyed, non-functioning Indonesian Hospital, the UN health agency said.
Business
Move over Mercedes: Chinese cars grab Mexican market share
Mexico City, Mexico -- The growing popularity of Chinese sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks has shaken up Mexico's luxury car...
- Mexicans are increasingly switching from traditionally dominant sedans to Chinese vehicles due to a combination of comfort, technology and price.
- It is no small feat in a country home to factories of foreign brands such as Audi and BMW, and where until a few years ago imported Chinese cars were stigmatized.
Business
Global stocks rise as Japan led Asia gains on a weaker yen
Seoul was an outlier in Asia with shares plunging as South Korea's political crisis deepened with a second impeachment vote....
- Japan's Nikkei index closed up nearly two percent, with the yen's recent weakness proving a boon for major exporters.
- In Europe, Frankfurt's DAX index rose after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved parliament on Friday and confirmed the expected date for the early general election
Improving healthcare in the intelligent age requires cultural change and collaboration
Leaders can utilize AI tools to streamline this challenging process by efficiently identifying individuals who are qualified matches to participate...
- Embracing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare demands a mindset shift, prioritizing collaboration, openness and willingness to transform outdated workflows
- Collaborative models such as federated learning and open datasets foster innovation while addressing privacy concerns, paving the way for a regenerative healthcare ecosystem
Geostrategy
Israeli strike on broadcast vehicle kills five Al-Quds Today journalists
Palestinian Territories -- A Palestinian TV channel said five of its journalists were killed Thursday in an Israeli strike on...
- The station identified the five staffers as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed Al-Lada'a.
- The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said last week that more than 190 journalists had been killed and at least 400 injured since the start of the war in Gaza.
Economy
Turkey lowers interest rate to 47.5% as it battles double-digit inflation
The bank's monetary policy committee decided to reduce the policy rate from 50 percent to 47.5 percent, with a statement...
- The central bank began to raise interest rates last year to battle soaring prices, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dropped his opposition to orthodox monetary policy.
- The central bank now expects inflation to reach 44 percent at the end of 2024, up from a previous estimate in August of 38 percent.
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Jobs and investment top MENA expectations from multinational firms, Ipsos finds
As geopolitical turbulence grows, companies are increasingly at the mercy of forces beyond corporate leadership’s control.
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Hamas says weapons are ‘legitimate right’, open to proposals that preserve it
"Resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed by international law and are linked to the establishment of a...
Geostrategy
China’s smaller manufacturers look to catch the automation wave
Yancheng, China -- In a light-filled workshop in eastern China, a robotic arm moved a partially assembled autonomous vehicle as workers...
Geostrategy
Trump vows revenge after troops in Syria killed in alleged IS ambush
The deadly attack had been "an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman," who was "engaged and killed," US Central Command...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Qatar sign high-speed rail deal to link capitals
The train would reach speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour and the trip would take roughly two hours between Riyadh...
- A direct flight between the cities clocks in at around 90 minutes.
- The project, set to be completed in six years, expects to serve 10 million passengers per year, the statement said.
Geostrategy
Mediators Qatar and Egypt call for next steps in fragile Gaza truce
"Now we are at the critical moment... A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the...
- Hamas said on Saturday that it was ready to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority on the condition that the Israeli army's occupation ends.
- Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, helped secure the long-elusive truce, which remains delicate as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching its terms.
Economy
Divided US Fed set for contentious interest rate meeting
When the Fed last met in October, Chair Jerome Powell asserted that another rate cut in December was "not a...
- Minutes from the Fed's most recent meeting showed many officials expect a further uptick in underlying goods inflation as President Donald Trump's tariffs bite.
- But recent comments from leading Fed officials also reflected support for cutting again because of a weakening labor market, even though inflation is still above Fed's 2% target.