APPLE VISION PRO

Apple’s Vision Pro headset gets a release date, bookings start January 19

The headset starts at $3,499 and marks the company’s biggest product launch since the original iPhone went on sale in 2007

Sheikh Mohamed in Gujarat

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed lands in India for Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit

The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will see the participation of 34 countries and 16 international organisations in its 10th edition

Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani

Billionaire index: Gautam Adani surpasses Mukesh Ambani as India’s richest man

Adani currently ranks 12 among the world’s richest

ANTONY-BLINKEN-MAHMOUD-ABBAS-STATE-DEPT

Antony Blinken back in the Middle East as Israel crisis rages on: 8 countries on tour list

Blinken’s visit to the region comes amid an escalation to the crisis in the Middle East

microsoft introduces copilot

Copilot: Microsoft adds AI button in first change to its keyboard in 30 years

The button will be seen on some new Windows 11 PCs in the run-up to and at the CES technology trade show

Saudi businessman survives -50°C, 60 mph winds to reach South Pole

Saudi Arabian adventurer and businessman Badr Al-Shebani has trekked to the South Pole in Antartica and endured tough conditions

WATCH: Saxo Bank CIO on global risks, opportunities in 2024

Chief Investment Officer of Saxo Bank, Steen Jakobsen, recently sat down with Gulf Business in an exclusive interview on the economic picture for 2024

Tesla

Chinese EV giant BYD overtakes Tesla in car sales for Q4

BYD’s deliveries show price cuts are working for the Chinese company

REVEALED: The 30 best places to work in the Middle East

The annual Middle East list, published by “The Best Places to Work”, has just been released and it has based its results on the assessment of over 500 companies

Neodymium, on periodic table. Rare earth metal in lanthanide series, with atomic number 60 and element symbol Nd, from Greek neos didymos, meaning new twin. Used for lasers and high strength magnets.

China bans export of rare earths processing tech over national security

China has significantly tightened rules guiding exports of several metals this year, in an escalating battle with the West over control of critical minerals

UK

Has UK economy entered a recession? Q3 data suggest so

UK Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said the outlook for the economy was not as bad as the updated official figures suggested

Toshiba

From scandal to delisting: Toshiba’s long-running crisis

Toshiba will be delisted on Wednesday after 74 years on the Tokyo exchange, following a decade of upheaval and scandal

Tesla

Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles on US roads over lack of Autopilot safeguards

Tesla will roll out the update to 2.03 million Model S, X, 3 and Y vehicles in the US dating back to 2012

India China

India’s economy follows China to reach rapid take off: Kemp

India is entering the central take-off portion of the S-curve when urbanisation, industrialisation, household incomes and energy consumption increase most rapidly

EGYPT-Cairo-City-GettyImages-83589386.jpg

How deep are Egypt’s economic troubles?

An over-valued currency, weak property rights and institutions, and an overbearing state and military have deterred investment and competition

Total passenger traffic rises 64.4% in 2022

Global airlines poised for 2.7% jump in profit in 2024, says IATA

Industry profits will reach $25.7bn in 2024, which is a slight improvement over this year’s $23.3bn

heat - hot areas image credit Getty Images

How heat fueled extreme weather across the world in 2023

Large swathes of North America, Europe and China saw heatwaves and blistering temperatures that triggered public health warnings

Sam Altman of OPENAI

Microsoft, OpenAI tie-up comes under antitrust scrutiny

UK to look at whether Microsoft-OpenAI deal harms competition

AI

Europe agrees landmark AI regulation deal

The accord requires foundation models such as ChatGPT and general purpose AI systems (GPAI) to comply with transparency obligations before they are put on the market

CYCLONE MICHAUNG

Cyclone Michaung: Dozens of flights affected at Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune airports

Heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Michaung has impacted international and domestic inbound and outbound flights across multiple airports in India

UAE unveils World Fire Emission Reduction Alliance Image Dubai Media Office

UAE unveils World Fire Emission Reduction Alliance at COP28

The signatories collectively represent over 56 countries globally, establishing a wide-ranging global alliance dedicated to reinforcing security, disaster prevention

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (1923-2023)

Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, dies aged 100

Kissinger had a role in many of the epoch-changing global events of the 1970s while serving as national security adviser and secretary of state

OpenAI - Sam Altman

UPDATE: Sam Altman to join Microsoft after OpenAI exit

Altman’s sacking angered current and former employees and worried them over an upcoming $86bn share sale

AUSTRALIA LIFT CRICKET WORLD CUP-2023

Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia stun hosts India to lift trophy

The Pat Cummins-led Australian side cruised to a win with seven overs remaining

Schengen visa process to go digital from 2028

Schengen visa: EU Council gives nod to online application

Based on the new rules, people who plan to travel to the Schengen area can apply online for a visa once the new system becomes operational in 2028

JOE BIDEN - XI JINPING MEET

US-China San Francisco Summit: Markets react as Joe Biden, Xi Jinping meet yields few results

In China, stocks fell on Thursday, as investors were disappointed by the top level Sino-US meeting

HUMANE AI

Humane’s new AI pin promises to revolutionise computing forever

Humane has raised $241m from Microsoft, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and others

WeWork

SoftBank’s WeWork, once most valuable US startup, succumbs to bankruptcy

WeWork listed estimated assets and liabilities in the range of $10bn to $50bn

Fitch Ratings cuts Egypt’s credit score one step to B-

Fitch downgrades Egypt one notch deeper into junk territory

The country’s debt problems have come amid a bruising economic crisis that has triggered a string of currency devaluations and record inflation

Nepal

Earthquake hits Nepal: Over 100 reported dead, search and rescue operations underway

The devastating earthquake struck a remote area of western Nepal, with rescue efforts underway to look for survivors