Author: Arabian Media staff

Hello, this is Kenji, presenting this edition of the #techAsia newsletter from Tokyo.Leading automakers here in Japan have been busy dealing with a range of issues as the era of electrification and intelligent cars blunts their traditional competitive edge.Over the past weekend, Nissan Motor was in the spotlight, with Nikkei learning that the ailing automaker is considering shutting down two factories in Mexico. Two more facilities in Kanagawa, a prefecture neighbouring Tokyo, may also be on the chopping block.There is no denying that one of Japan’s oldest homegrown automakers — which traces its history back to the 1910s — is…

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The growth path for retail real estate in Saudi Arabia is promising for 2025–2026, primarily driven by the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, the rise of mega projects, and the entry of international brands. Key cities like Riyadh and Jeddah are seeing a surge in new retail developments, ranging from shopping malls and entertainment complexes to mixed-use developments that integrate retail, hospitality, and residential spaces. Increased tourism will further boost retail sales, attracting both investors and developers. The government’s foreign investment policies, such as allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership, could also help grow…

Adrian Quine is a frustrated rail executive. The entrepreneur has spent two years trying to convince investors to back Gemini, a start-up looking to launch a rival to Eurostar, which has had no competition in its 30-year history. Among the cross channel challengers, which include Italy’s state-owned railway giant FS Group and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, Gemini has pledged to run its first train from London to Paris in 2029.The potential new entrants are all still years away from launching, underlining the challenge of opening an international rail service — with different track types and signalling systems — in…

When it comes to luxury landscaping in Dubai, MDO Landscape and Swimming Pools sets the benchmark for exceptional outdoor living spaces. Renowned as a premier full-service pool and landscape construction company, we create turnkey outdoor environments that are both beautiful and functional. A Philosophy of Simplicity and Refinement At the heart of our philosophy lies the belief that great design thrives in simplicity. By merging bold forms, clean geometry, deliberate repetition, and striking contrasts, we deliver visually stunning landscapes that remain timeless in their appeal. This minimalist approach ensures strong visual connections between outdoor spaces and architectural structures, creating harmony…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm will step down later this year, and the search for a successor is under way, the FTSE 100 mining group said on Thursday. Rio did not give a reason for the unexpected exit of Stausholm, who has led the miner since 2021. Under Stausholm, Rio has made a big push into lithium production, including the $6.7bn acquisition of Arcadium Lithium last year. He was also tasked with restoring the company’s image after a huge shareholder outcry…

Leon Cooperman, the 82-year-old billionaire chairman and chief executive of Omega Advisors, doesn’t have a particularly optimistic view of stocks. Source link

“How much is too much?” asks Lars Fogh Mortensen, circular economy expert at the European Environment Agency, in a video explainer posted on social media. A pile of clothes are flung at Mortensen to illustrate how the consumption of clothing, footwear and other textiles in the EU has reached a record high. The EEA reported in March that the average EU citizen bought 19kg of textiles in 2022, up from 17kg in 2019. While the EU embarked on an ambitious sustainable and circular textiles strategy in 2022, climate experts warn that the transition away from fast fashion is too slow, as…

Banks’ climate goals are falling like dominoes. HSBC has told investors to expect a rejigged energy strategy and climate targets in the second half of the year, while Royal Bank of Canada has dropped its sustainable financing target altogether and UBS has pushed back a target to cut its greenhouse emissions to net zero by a decade. Wells Fargo is no longer aiming for net zero by mid-century.All these banks are, or have previously been, members of the UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance, which launched in 2021. It is one of the major financial sector collaborations to have led the way…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Northvolt seemed like it had everything going for it. The Swedish industrial start-up was Europe’s pioneer in battery manufacturing, led by two former Tesla executives, backed financially by big corporate names such as Volkswagen, BMW and Siemens as well as investors including Goldman Sachs and BlackRock. It also had $55bn of orders for its factory close to the Arctic Circle.But in the past year all that has unravelled rapidly, leaving Northvolt bankrupt, investors nursing big losses and Europe’s hopes of competing with…

One scoop to start: US industrials group Honeywell has agreed a £1.8bn all-cash deal to buy the catalyst technologies arm of FTSE 250 chemicals company Johnson Matthey.And another thing: Investor Steven Wood has failed in his bid to win a board seat at Swatch Group, after the powerful Hayek family voted against his resolution at the struggling watch group’s annual meeting.Welcome to Due Diligence, your briefing on dealmaking, private equity and corporate finance. This article is an on-site version of the newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every Tuesday to Friday. Standard subscribers can…