THE HOT STORY

UAE tops global AI adoption rankings

The UAE is the world's leading adopter of artificial intelligence technologies, becoming the first country globally where more than 70% of the working-age population actively uses AI, according to the latest Microsoft AI Diffusion Report for the first quarter of 2026, published by the Microsoft AI Economy Institute⁠. The report said that AI adoption in the UAE climbed to 70.1% during the period, sharply above the global average of 17.8%. “The UAE is no longer merely experimenting with AI adoption - it is embedding artificial intelligence into the core of its economic model,” said Amr Kamel, general manager of Microsoft UAE⁠. “This achievement reflects years of sustained efforts by the government, enterprises and individuals to build a digitally empowered economy.”

Khaleej Times Online

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LEGAL

Payout for worker who said Sara Netanyahu threw food at her

An employee at Israel's Prime Minister's Office has received tens of thousands of shekels in compensation after alleging that Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, threw food at her. The worker, identified only as Shin, claimed that Netanyahu was dissatisfied with her salad and threw tomatoes and olives at her. The Prime Minister's Office said that “the employee's employment was terminated by the employment agency alone, and in accordance with professional considerations after recurring issues were raised regarding her poor performance. The allegations made are untrue and are a complete lie.”

The Times of Israel

WORKFORCE

Saudi Arabia deploys thousands of Hajj volunteers

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has deployed over 4,500 trained volunteers to assist pilgrims during the 1447 AH Hajj season. The initiative is part of a larger programme expected to involve more than 20,000 participants. Volunteers will support worshipers at key locations, including airports and holy sites, helping with crowd management and operational tasks.

Khaleej Times Online

TECHNOLOGY

Bahrain 'set to play key role in AI development'

Bahrain, along with other GCC nations, is poised to play a significant role in artificial intelligence (AI) development, despite challenges from regional conflicts. A report by Justin Alexander from Rice University's Baker Institute highlights the Gulf's strengths, including investment capacity and strategic geography. Bahrain aims to train 50,000 citizens in AI skills by 2030 and has introduced legislation for AI regulation. However, geopolitical tensions pose risks, necessitating enhanced security for data centres. Alexander noted that the conflict has underscored the importance of AI for economic diversification and national security.

Gdn Online

Amazon staff use AI tool for unnecessary tasks to inflate usage scores

Amazon employees are using an internal AI tool called “MeshClaw” to automate non-essential tasks in a bid to show managers they are using the technology more frequently.

Financial Times

ECONOMY

Saudi Arabia boosts logistics spending

Saudi Arabia has accelerated investments in transport and logistics to improve supply chains for the Kingdom and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries and blunt the impact of the Iran war. The closure of the Hormuz strait has made it harder for the likes of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to import food and other goods.

Bloomberg

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Women at the sharp end as AI takes over administrative roles

Experts warn that many professions with the least adaptability to AI are heavily female dominated, and fear an erosion of women-dominated roles could increase gender inequality as progress already reverses.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

Google settles racial discrimination lawsuit for $50m

Google has agreed to pay $50m to settle a lawsuit filed by Black employees alleging systemic racial discrimination in hiring, pay, and advancement. April Curley, a former employee, claimed the company engaged in unfair treatment, steering Black workers into lower-level roles. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the plaintiffs, said: "This case is about accountability, plain and simple . . . For far too long, Black employees in the tech industry have faced barriers that limit opportunity. This settlement is a significant step toward holding one of the world’s most powerful companies accountable and making clear that discriminatory practices cannot and will not be tolerated.” The settlement includes commitments to pay equity analyses and limits on mandatory arbitration for employment disputes until August 2026. Google has not commented on the settlement.

AP News

U.S. News

Employers increasingly favour temporary staff over permanent hires

Companies in the US and Europe are increasingly relying on temporary workers amid economic instability and artificial intelligence-driven disruptions, with staffing firms reporting that clients are turning to contractors as employers evaluate how AI will affect their labour needs. “When clients will have more confidence and talent to start changing jobs or organising work with more permanent jobs, we don’t know,” observed Amsterdam-based Randstad’s chief financial officer Jorge Vazquez on the company’s latest earnings call.

Chicago Tribune

AI reliance could cost companies dearly

Singapore's Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Education Jasmin Lau has warned that companies which rely solely on artificial intelligence risk losing their competitive edge. During a parliamentary debate, she emphasised the importance of investing in human talent alongside technology. “If companies here replace humans completely with AI, they will find themselves in future to have no competitive edge when AI is available to all,” she said. “They will also find themselves at the mercy of AI companies.”

Business Times SG

Commerzbank plans 3,000 job cuts

Commerzbank has said it plans to cut 3,000 jobs to help it reach more ambitious profit targets as part of a strategy to fend off a mooted takeover by Italian lender UniCredit. "UniCredit’s communicated plan remains vague and bears considerable execution risks, while using misleading narratives that discredit Commerzbank," the German lender said about UniCredit's recent move to officially launch its takeover attempt at a below-market price of €37bn ($43.43bn).

Reuters

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