THE HOT STORY

Qatar launches two new Residency Visas

Qatar has introduced two new categories of Residency Visas aimed at high-growth entrepreneurs and senior executives. Announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani during the Web Summit Qatar 2026, these visas aim to attract global talent and empower industry leaders. The Residency Visa for Executives simplifies long-term residency for senior professionals, while the Residency Visa for Entrepreneurs supports founders in establishing and expanding their businesses. Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani noted that these visas are crucial for attracting talent and enhancing Qatar's competitive position in the global market.

Trade Arabia

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Hilton paves the way for future female leaders

Hilton has launched Raeidat (meaning Pioneers), its new Women in Leadership programme in Saudi Arabia, created to prepare women for future leadership roles within the hospitality sector. The inaugural cohort brings together 25 women from 10 Hilton hotels across the Kingdom, selected for their leadership potential and readiness to progress into more senior roles.

Zawya EN

TECHNOLOGY

Gulf countries are ‘best places' for AI development

Tala al-Jabri, the founder of Wyld VC, says the Gulf is emerging as a global hub for artificial intelligence development. She highlighted Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE as prime locations due to their visionary leadership, progressive policies, and substantial government investment. Al-Jabri noted that the region's young population is embracing AI, with strong adoption across various sectors. She emphasised the importance of safety, social stability, and a transparent regulatory framework in attracting global talent.

Gulf Times

WORKFORCE

Jordan's job market shows strong recovery

Jordan's Department of Statistics (DoS) has reported that 48,403 net new jobs were created in the first half of 2025. The private sector contributed 88% of these jobs, with trade and related activities leading at 26%. Jordanians filled 94% of the new positions, reflecting a growing capacity for sustainable employment. Men accounted for 85.2% of the jobs, while women made up 14.8%. The report noted that job creation was particularly strong among young people aged 20–29, who secured 86.2% of the new roles. DoS conducts this survey biannually, covering 100,000 households.

Zawya EN

LEGAL

German prosecutors target Lebanese banker’s assets

German prosecutors have requested a court to confiscate assets worth €35m linked to a money laundering investigation involving Riad Salameh, the former governor of Lebanon's central bank. The investigation, which began in mid-2021, focuses on whether embezzled funds were laundered in Europe. Salameh, who denies wrongdoing, said: "My lawyer will challenge the case and will prove that these investments are of my own funds." The seized properties include commercial real estate in Munich and Hamburg, as well as shares in a Düsseldorf-based company.

U.S. News

CORPORATE

DPI invested additional $50m to support Kazyon

London-based private equity firm Development Partners International (DPI) has invested an additional $50m to support Kazyon, an Egyptian discount retail chain, in expanding across the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in Morocco and Saudi Arabia. This follows DPI's earlier equity stake in Kazyon, which has grown to about 1,600 stores and over 11,000 employees since its founding in 2014. The new funding will facilitate deeper market reach and competitive pricing for consumers.

Morocco World News

INTERNATIONAL

France replaces US tech tools with domestic apps

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered the country's ministries to shift their video calls to Visio, an application developed by the French government, from American-owned tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, by the end of the year. “To guarantee the security, confidentiality and resilience of public electronic communications, it is . . . imperative to deploy a unified videoconferencing solution, controlled by the State, based on sovereign technologies,” he wrote in a letter. The tool was built by the French government with Outscale, a France-based cloud company, and enlisted two French AI companies, Pyannote and Kyutai, to offer transcription and subtitling services.

Financial Times

New York Times

Walmart México recruits software developers through Fortnite

Walmart México is recruiting software developers through Fortnite, making it the first Latin American employer to use the gaming platform for hiring. The initiative features a custom mini-game where candidates complete coding challenges in Java, iOS, and Android. Walmart is shifting its identity from a traditional retailer to a technology employer, having moved its IT hub from India to Mexico in 2025. The initiative targets the 72m gamers in Mexico, emphasising the transferability of gaming skills to workplace collaboration. Candidates competing in in-game challenges can apply via Walmart's Discord server or website.

Mexico News Daily

Germans' 'lifestyle part-time' work faces scrutiny

The economic wing of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT), has criticised what it calls "lifestyle part-time" - a reference to "not people who need to reduce their hours to take care of children, or sick relatives or pursue education. It's about people who just want more free time," MIT spokeswoman Juliane Berndt explained to Deutsche Welle. "With a four-day week and an exaggerated work-life balance, prosperity cannot be maintained," Merz said in early January. He also complained that Germans call in sick for work too often, and suffer from a lack of work ethic.

Deutsche Welle (EN)

Coupang CEO questioned over major data breach

Coupang's interim chief executive, Harold Rogers, has been questioned by Seoul police over allegations of obstructing investigations into a data breach affecting more than 33m of the e-commerce company's customers. Authorities suspect the company downplayed the scale of the breach and tampered with evidence, including analysing a suspect’s laptop without approval. Mr Rogers had defied two earlier summonses before appearing on Friday. The case has triggered political friction, with US officials warning against unfair treatment of Coupang, a US-listed company, and speculation linking it to increased US tariffs on Korean goods.

The Korea Times

Reuters

OTHER

Girls 'happier than boys at school'

Norwegian researchers say that girls tend to be happier than boys at school, partly due to differing biological responses to social interactions. Girls gain more dopamine from friendships, while boys, who have higher testosterone levels, require more physical activity to achieve similar happiness. The study of over 1,600 children revealed that girls and younger students reported greater well-being and a stronger connection to their school environment. Additionally, girls outperformed boys academically in reading and science, despite boys believing they excelled in math.

The Independent UK

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe