KING CHARLES

King Charles diagnosed with cancer: Buckingham Palace

The British monarch has begun treatments and will take a break from public engagements

Amazon Rufus

Amazon launches AI chatbot Rufus: 5 ways to use it to shop better

The chatbot was launched in beta version to a small subset of customers in Amazon’s mobile app in the US and will be rolled out across the country in the coming weeks

Red Sea - MAERSK

Red Sea attacks: Here’s how shipping firms have reacted

Several major shipping companies have had to react to challenges being faced in the Red Sea

Red Sea shipping

Red Sea tensions to drive ocean freight shipping rates up by 243%

While the situation remains volatile and subject to change, the newly-released data is best indication of where the market is headed

Lewis Hamilton

End of an era in F1: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG Petronas to part ways

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have confirmed that their partnership will come to an end after the 2024 season

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

IMF, Egypt agree on ‘main elements’ of economic reform programme

The International Monetary Fund has agreed with Egypt on key policy components of an economic reform programme

Nirmala Sitharaman presents interim budget

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Interim Budget for 2024

From infrastructure to agriculture, from healthcare to income tax, expectations are high for the Indian government to provide relief despite inflationary pressures in its budget announcements

interest rate - US Fed

US Fed maintains interest rates, says more ‘confidence’ needed on inflation before rate cuts

Inflation has now been running below the Fed’s target on a seven-month basis while US economic growth and the job market have remained largely intact

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Oman as Red Sea tensions escalate

His visit to Muscat follows regional travel last week where he met with leaders in Israel, Qatar and Turkey

Emirates joins forces with UK in sustainable aviation push Image Emirates X

Emirates joins forces with UK in sustainable aviation push

The Solent Cluster has the potential to create a sustainable aviation fuel plant with an estimated fuel production capacity of 200,000 tonnes (200 kt) per year

Ikea furniture price discount

Your next Ikea purchase could come at a discount as raw material costs ease

The furniture retailer has announced price cuts in Germany – its biggest market by sales – as well as Sweden and the UK

NEURALINK

Chips in human brains now a reality: Elon Musk confirms first Neuralink implant

The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans

TAX

What do Indian expats expect from interim Budget 2024?

With the unveiling of Budget 2024 just round the corner, the NRI community hopes that the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) process as well as the tax bracket is re-worked to provide relief

Business as usual for Suez Canal as Egypt denies suspension

Navigation movement in Egypt’s Suez Canal is regular from both directions, says a top official from that country

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