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DUBAI / Emirates Business The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation launched the unified National Call Center, Tawasul 171, within the framework of the initiatives approved by the Federal Government Services Continuity Committee. Tawasul 171, an initiative launched in the context of enhancing coordination and concerted efforts between the government and private sectors to support national efforts in facing the ...

Dubai / WAM The ‘Digital Knowledge Hub’ – a platform launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, MBRF, to promote the dissemination and production of knowledge – has devoted a special section to book summaries from MBRF’s ‘Book in Minutes’ initiative. The foundation had introduced the initiative more than six years ago to provide summaries of best-selling ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has developed and launched its new interactive chat platform ‘Saif’, a friendly deep learning chatbot powered by Artificial Intelligence, AI technology. ‘Saif’ is designed to enhance ADU’s website offerings and boost user’s experience in obtaining information. The newly launched chatbot was developed in-house by ADU’s expertise and is designed to self-learn and ...

Bloomberg Blackstone Group Inc’s talks about a potential investment in Chinese property developer Soho China Ltd have stalled, people with knowledge of the matter said. The private equity firm’s discussions are no longer progressing after the coronavirus outbreak made it difficult to assess the developer’s business outlook, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is ...

Bloomberg Factory output across several Asian countries slumped to record lows in April, signaling a deeper contraction in the world’s manufacturing hub even as China begins restarting some operations. Purchasing managers indexes across Southeast Asia slumped further below 50, the dividing line between contraction and expansion, to post their weakest readings since the series began, according to data released by ...

Bloomberg Sugar mills in Indonesia called on consumers to reduce consumption after shortages pushed retail prices to the highest in almost four years. Their plea comes as the world’s top sugar buyer faces challenges importing the sweetener due to tight global supplies and countries’ restrictions to prevent spread of virus, said Yadi Yusriyadi, senior adviser at Indonesian Sugar Association.

Bloomberg Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd has received a new non-binding takeover offer from a Shenzhen-listed rival gaming firm, according to people familiar with the matter. Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co and Leyou’s controlling shareholder Charles Yuk are in talks after signing a memorandum of understanding, the people said. Century Huatong will likely kick off due diligence soon, said the people, ...

Bloomberg The trial of Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak for his alleged role in 1MDB will resume next week as the country relaxes its lockdown. All relevant parties including Najib have been told to attend court on May 13, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib. The country allowed nearly all sectors of the economy to reopen starting on Monday ...

Bloomberg Hong Kong’s downturn is now the worst on record, extending the first recession seen in a decade as the coronavirus outbreak further battered an economy already weakened by political unrest. The city’s economy contracted 8.9% in the first quarter from year-ago levels, according to advance government data. The decline surpasses the previous record of -8.3% in the third quarter ...

Bloomberg European manufacturing will take a long time to overcome the damage caused by the coronavirus, after suffering an unprecedented slump in April. In its monthly report on factories, IHS Markit said the recovery from shutdowns will be “frustratingly slow.” With economies still not running at full speed for some time, that means businesses and jobs will remain under threat. ...