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Middle East Edition
10th November 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Israel weighs not taxing new immigrants for first two years

Israel's Finance Ministry has announced a tax reform for new immigrants and returning residents making Aliyah in 2026. They will enjoy a two-year tax exemption, after which rates will rise by 10% annually, reaching 30% by 2030 for incomes up to 1m shekels. Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer highlighted the reform's significance in enhancing integration and economic growth, describing it as a "major and meaningful component" of national efforts to encourage Aliyah. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: "The year 2026 will bring a revolution in Aliyah." 
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LEADERSHIP

HSBC launches new leadership programme

HSBC has launched a new leadership programme at its $150m campus in Guangzhou that is aimed at transforming its corporate culture. Chief executive Georges Elhedery is driving the change, emphasising accountability and high performance. The programme will be implemented across HSBC's global offices, including Dubai. Elhedery, who took over in 2024, faces the challenge of reshaping a workforce accustomed to a bureaucratic approach. The bank is also undergoing significant restructuring to cut costs and improve efficiency.
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CULTURE

The future of work is still human

Michigan Ross School of Business professor Marcus Collins says the importance of technology in the future of work has been overemphasised, and that the future of work is actually cultural, not technological.
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HEALTH & SAFETY

UAE safety rules for workers to ensure protection on job sites

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) in the UAE has introduced five crucial safety rules for workers at job sites. Compliance with these measures, including wearing helmets, safety vests, and protective footwear, is ssen as essential for safeguarding workers. The ministry also provides guidance on safety standards and has established channels for reporting violations.
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RISK

Somali pirates board first ship in 18 months

Pirates off the coast of Somalia have launched the first successful boarding of a commercial vessel in 18 months, according to maritime authorities and shipping analysts. Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management confirmed the attack on a ship carrying gasoline. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the raid happened about 560 nautical miles south-east of the Somali town of Eyl. Private security firm Ambrey said the attackers were probably Somali pirates, who have been active in the region in recent days.
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INTERNATIONAL

DEI critic to lead US workplace civil rights agency

President Donald Trump has appointed Andrea Lucas as chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a move that signals a vote of confidence for her efforts to stamp out diversity programmes and prioritise religious rights in the workplace. Trump elevated Lucas to acting chair of the agency in January and concurrently fired two Democratic commissioners, clearing the way to establish a Republican majority. Lauren Khouri, senior director of workplace equality at the National Women's Law Center, said: “Andrea Lucas was handpicked by Trump to lead the EEOC and his mission of weaponising the agency to attack hardworking people across the country . . . Lucas has a history of abandoning workers at every turn and leaving them without protection, including women workers, transgender and nonbinary workers, and workers of colour."

Britain’s ‘fit note’ system faces overhaul to get more people back to work

The UK government plans to reform the “fit note” system as it strives to keep more people with health conditions and disabilities in work. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said there is a “case for some change” amid fears that too many people are declared unfit for work too easily. McFadden, who was speaking at the launch of The Keep Britain Working report which found one in five working-age adults is now out of the labour force, said:  “We are going to try some different ways . . . You could have different practitioners doing it, as long as it is someone trusted by the patient who can . . . see how ill they are and how long they need to be off or whether they could in fact be better off in work.”

Meta responds to French rights watchdog claims over gender discrimination

Meta has rejected a ruling by the French rights watchdog which said the platform's algorithm discriminates against users in job advertisements based on gender. The independent body, Defenseur des Droits, deemed Meta's practices a form of indirect discrimination and called for non-discriminatory measures to be implemented within three months. In response, Meta said: "We disagree with this decision and are assessing our options." Campaign group Global Witness together with French women's rights organisations Foundation for Women (Fondation des Femmes) and Women Engineers (Femmes Ingénieures), which had complained to the rights watchdog, welcomed the ruling.

Thai employers get grace period for new e-WorkPermit scheme

Thailand's Department of Employment (DOE) has announced a leniency period for employers struggling with the country's new e-WorkPermit system. Until January 28, employers can continue using paper applications. Pichet Thongphan, director-general of the DOE, noted that many employers faced technical issues since the system's launch on October 13. Employers recruiting migrant workers under memorandums of understanding and those applying for skilled workers under Article 60 can submit applications without switching to the new system. For other cases, the new e-WorkPermit system is mandatory.
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OTHER

Companies push for regulation on plastics reduction

Global food and packaging companies, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever, are collaborating to reduce plastic use and advocate for regulation following the collapse of UN talks in August. The failure to secure a deal on cutting plastic has left many advocates pessimistic about achieving a global agreement during US President Donald Trump's administration. "It is certainly encouraging to see multinationals publicly recommit on plastics, but credibility now hinges on evidence, not new promises," Kelly Cooper, sustainability consultant and co-author of a Harvard study into the impact of political shifts on corporate sustainability, told Reuters.
 
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