In a decisive move to address Bolivia’s deepening economic crisis, President Rodrigo Paz announced sweeping reforms just two weeks into his tenure. The nation’s first conservative leader in nearly two decades, Paz revealed plans to eliminate a series of taxes and slash federal spending by 30% in the 2026 budget. These measures aim to reverse years of populist economic policies enacted under the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, which had long dominated Bolivian politics. Among the taxes targeted for repeal are the national wealth tax and a 0.3% levy on financial transactions, both of which Paz argued have stifled growth and discouraged investment. Business leaders have welcomed the changes, with Klaus Freking of the agricultural chamber hailing the end of ‘persecution of the private sector.’ However, Paz has opted to retain key elements of the MAS economic model, including fuel subsidies and a fixed exchange rate, despite their distortions. Economic analyst Gonzalo Chávez noted that while Paz’s initial steps are promising, they fail to address core structural issues. The government has also secured a $3.1 billion loan from the Andean Development Corporation, with plans to borrow up to $9 billion over the next three years. Additionally, Paz has worked to mend relations with the United States, culminating in agreements on nuclear cooperation and security assistance. The administration has also approved Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate in Bolivia, a move previously blocked by the former government. Early signs of progress include a reduction in fuel shortages and a modest recovery in Bolivia’s sovereign bonds and currency value.
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Middle East construction embraces digitalisation to drive sustainability goals
The Middle East’s construction industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the dual imperatives of sustainability and digitalization. Companies across the region are increasingly adopting low-carbon design principles, energy-efficient building practices, and advanced technologies to optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact. Key innovations such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins, AI-based simulations, and lifecycle analysis are enabling construction teams to model environmental outcomes, reduce waste, and align with global and regional sustainability standards. This shift is further bolstered by robust regulatory frameworks and ambitious national agendas, including the UAE Net Zero 2050 and Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasize decarbonization and data-driven decision-making. At the recent Big 5 Global 2025 event, Nemetschek Arabia showcased its cutting-edge solutions, including AI-driven design optimization, BIM collaboration, and smart building operations, highlighting the potential of open and intelligent digital workflows to enhance productivity and sustainability. The GCC construction market, valued at $147.1 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $226.2 billion by 2033, driven by mega-projects such as Saudi Arabia’s giga developments and UAE landmarks like the Saadiyat Cultural District. Nemetschek Arabia aims to deepen its role as a digital transformation partner, focusing on localized solutions, ecosystem collaboration, and AI-driven innovation to support the region’s net-zero goals and the creation of resilient, sustainable cities.
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NADZ Healthcare crowned “Best Home Healthcare” at Health Magazine Awards 2025
In a landmark achievement for the regional healthcare sector, NADZ Healthcare has been honored with the coveted “Best Home Healthcare” award at the Health Magazine Annual Health Awards 2025. The prestigious recognition was presented by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan during a ceremony that celebrated excellence in medical services across the UAE.
The award specifically acknowledges NADZ Healthcare’s innovative fusion of clinical precision and concierge-style service delivery, establishing new benchmarks for in-home medical care catering to Dubai’s affluent and privacy-conscious residents. This patient-centric model was fundamentally shaped by the philosophical approach of its founder, Dr. Nadia Choudhry, who has led the organization for 15 years.
Judging panel representatives highlighted three distinctive strengths that positioned NADZ Healthcare above competitors:
1. **Advanced Mobile Medical Capabilities**: The organization maintains hospital-grade clinical standards through DHA-licensed medical teams equipped with sophisticated portable diagnostics technology. Their arsenal includes point-of-care blood testing equipment, mobile ECG and ultrasound devices, and remote patient monitoring systems, enabling accurate medical assessments in diverse environments including private residences, luxury hotels, and yachts.
2. **Discretion-Forward Service Model**: Catering specifically to high-net-worth individuals and privacy-sensitive clients, NADZ operates unbranded clinical vehicles and conducts low-profile visits to ensure complete confidentiality. Simultaneously, the provider offers premium wellness services in unconventional settings, including physiotherapy sessions aboard private yachts and comprehensive health evaluations on golf courses.
3. **Empathy-Driven Patient Care**: Beyond technical excellence, the organization has earned consistent praise for its human-centered approach to medicine. Dr. Choudhry’s philosophy of serving as both medical professional and attentive listener has permeated the entire clinical team, creating an environment where patients feel genuinely heard, safe, and comprehensively supported.
The award committee noted NADZ’s exceptional performance across multiple service domains, including emergency stabilization, post-operative care, preventive wellness programs, and VIP event medical coverage. This recognition reflects broader regional trends toward personalized, mobile healthcare solutions that prioritize patient experience, particularly among corporate clients, private families, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Dr. Choudhry emphasized the organization’s commitment to patient choice, noting: “We architected NADZ to provide genuine alternatives in healthcare delivery. Whether clients require absolute anonymity or prefer to share their healthcare journey publicly, we deliver identical clinical excellence and respect to both preferences.”
With growing demand for premium home healthcare services, NADZ plans strategic expansion of its specialist teams, mobile diagnostic capabilities, and rapid-response coverage throughout Dubai and wider UAE regions.
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Women chair 15.8% of board positions in 73 listed financial companies in the UAE
A groundbreaking report titled ‘Discovery Series 2025: Women transforming financial services,’ jointly published by Heriot-Watt University and Grant Thornton, has shed light on the representation of women in senior leadership roles within the UAE’s financial services sector. The report, which serves as an evidence-based benchmark, highlights that women currently chair 15.8% of board positions across 73 listed financial companies in the UAE. This figure surpasses the UAE-wide average of 14.8% across all sectors, as per the 2025 GCC Board Gender Index, indicating that the financial sector is slightly ahead in advancing women’s representation at the board level.
The report underscores the critical contributions of women in key roles such as board directors, Chief Risk Officers (CROs), and Heads of Internal Audit (HIAs) across banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and fintech enterprises. These roles are pivotal in safeguarding the integrity of the financial sector and enabling sustainable growth, particularly as the UAE continues to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil. In 2024, the UAE’s economy grew by 4% to Dh1.77 trillion, with the non-oil sector accounting for over three-quarters of the GDP. The financial industry alone contributed approximately 13.2% to the economy.
Despite these advancements, the report reveals significant gaps in gender representation. Eight of the 73 companies studied have no women on their boards, and only three out of 49 companies have a female CRO. Similarly, just six out of 60 companies have a female HIA, highlighting the need for proactive measures to enhance gender balance in leadership roles.
Hisham Farouk, CEO of Grant Thornton UAE, emphasized the importance of intentional progress in building a world-class, innovation-led economy. He noted that the Discovery Series serves as a benchmark to help industry, regulators, and boards track progress and actively close the leadership representation gap. Emma Smalls, UAE Head of Business Risk Private Bank at HSBC Middle East, echoed this sentiment, calling for continued focus on inclusive leadership to accelerate the journey toward diverse and resilient governance.
Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice-Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, stated that the report aims to provide a clear, evidence-based picture of gender representation at senior levels in the UAE financial sector. She emphasized the financial industry’s responsibility to champion gender equity, given its progressive nature and significant role in the UAE’s economic transformation.
The 2025 Discovery Series, which can be accessed online, combines quantitative data and qualitative narratives to offer sector-specific insights into how women are shaping governance, risk, and reform from within. Through this initiative, Grant Thornton and Heriot-Watt University hope to inspire further action and accelerate the journey toward truly diverse and resilient governance in the UAE’s financial services sector.
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UAE: Gaza journalist, top hostage mediator among guests at Emirates Literature Festival
The 17th edition of the Emirates Literature Festival (ELF), scheduled to take place from January 21 to 27, 2026, has announced its full lineup, promising a diverse and thought-provoking program. The festival, held at the Theater of Digital Art in Madinat Jumeirah, will feature a range of notable figures, including Gaza photojournalist Plestia Aqad and top hostage mediator Scott Walker. Aqad, author of ‘Eyes of Gaza,’ will participate in panel discussions to share her harrowing experiences documenting one of the most extensively covered conflicts in history. Walker, renowned for his expertise in crisis negotiation, will reveal strategies for diffusing high-stakes situations. The festival will also celebrate Emirati culture, with poet Shamma Al Bastaki presenting her debut collection ‘House to House,’ which chronicles Dubai’s transformation from the 1940s to the 1980s. Award-winning author Salha Obaid will mark the English translation of her novel ‘Circle of Spice,’ while children’s author Ebtisam Al-Beiti will enchant young audiences with a puppet show based on her latest book. International literary sensation RF Kuang and Emmy-winning comedian Vir Das will also grace the event, alongside a tribute to Egyptian icon Umm Kulthum. Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, highlighted the festival’s global impact, having inspired over a million children and launched numerous initiatives.
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What’s on this Week: Skaik turns pro as DP World, LET & MENA Tours swing into action
While the PGA Tour enters its offseason hiatus, professional golf maintains relentless momentum across three continents this week. The global circuit transitions seamlessly to Australia, Spain, and Portugal with significant tournaments unfolding on the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour, and the revitalized MENA Golf Tour.
The 2026 DP World Tour season commences abruptly after a mere one-week break with the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane. Boasting a AUD 2,500,000 purse, the event features a formidable field headlined by major champions and local heroes. Adam Scott, Cam Smith, and 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy join rising stars like Finland’s recent PGA Tour breakthrough Sami Valimaki. The tournament also marks a critical early opportunity for players like Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard, who secured dual PGA Tour status with a strong finish in Dubai.
Simultaneously, the Ladies European Tour culminates its 2025 season at the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de España in Malaga. With €700,000 on the line, the event will finalize the coveted Order of Merit ranking, determining which top ten players earn direct access to the LPGA Q-Series and which seventy retain their tour cards for the following season.
Concurrently, the MENA Golf Tour launches its 2025-26 campaign with the PGA Aroeira Challenge in Portugal, offering a $100,000 purse. The tour’s relaunch provides a crucial competitive platform, exemplified by two contrasting narratives: the triumphant return of injured three-time DP World Tour winner Chris Wood, who dominated the recent Q-School, and the highly anticipated professional debut of the UAE’s promising amateur, Ahmad Skaik, who begins his pro journey with a sponsor exemption. A second event, the Rolear Algarve Challenge, follows immediately before a winter pause.
This coordinated international action underscores golf’s evolving, year-round calendar, offering continuous playing opportunities and development pathways for established stars and emerging talents alike.
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Global gathering of Cantonese people opens in Guangdong
The global Cantonese community came together in a historic gathering held in the ancient Zhuji Alley in Shaoguan, Guangdong province, on Tuesday. This significant event attracted over 800 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions, showcasing the widespread influence and unity of the Cantonese diaspora. The 1,500-meter-long alley, steeped in history, served as the perfect backdrop for the occasion, which featured a variety of cultural activities, including a themed gala and ancestral tracing ceremonies. These activities were designed to strengthen bonds among Cantonese people worldwide and to celebrate their shared cultural heritage. The gathering not only highlighted the enduring connections within the Cantonese community but also underscored the importance of preserving and promoting their unique cultural identity on a global scale.
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South Africa eye sweep as India start mammoth chase poorly
South Africa has positioned itself for a potential series sweep after setting India a daunting victory target of 549 in the second Test in Guwahati. The visitors declared their second innings at 260-5, following Tristan Stubbs’ impressive knock of 94, which was cut short by Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling. India, trailing by 522 runs, faced early setbacks in their chase, ending the day at 27-2, with Sai Sudharsan and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav set to resume on Wednesday. South Africa’s dominant performance was bolstered by their first-innings lead of 288, putting immense pressure on the hosts. Earlier in the day, South Africa’s top order struggled against India’s spinners, with Jadeja claiming four wickets. Despite some resistance from Tony de Zorzi (49) and Wiaan Mulder (35 not out), India’s bowlers found it challenging to contain the visitors. India’s batting woes continued as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 13, and KL Rahul was dismissed for six by Simon Harmer. With three sessions remaining, India faces an uphill battle to salvage a draw.
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UAE: Residents can now pay fines, fees in monthly instalments with Tabby
The UAE Ministry of Finance (MoF) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative allowing residents to pay federal government fees and fines in monthly instalments through the Tabby app. Announced on Tuesday, this move leverages the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ model, offering customers flexibility in managing their financial obligations. Under this arrangement, Tabby will settle the full amount with the relevant government entity upfront, while customers repay the sum in pre-agreed instalments. This service is optional, with the associated commission borne solely by the user. The partnership with Tabby aligns with the MoF’s broader strategy to enhance digital payment solutions, foster financial inclusion, and support the UAE’s digital transformation. Saeed Rashid Al Yateem, MoF’s Assistant Undersecretary for Government Budget and Revenue Sector, emphasized the ministry’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge financial technologies to improve customer satisfaction and provide secure, flexible payment options. Hosam Arab, co-founder and CEO of Tabby, expressed pride in supporting the MoF’s mission to make federal services more accessible across the UAE. This initiative underscores the UAE’s progressive approach to integrating modern financial tools into public services, ensuring convenience and efficiency for residents.
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X’s new feature raises questions about the foreign origins of some popular US political accounts
Accounts with names like @TRUMP_ARMY and @MAGANationX, adorned with portraits of former President Donald Trump, voter rallies, and American flags, have long appeared to be fervent supporters of U.S. politics. However, a recent update to the social media platform X has revealed that many of these accounts are not based in the United States but in regions such as South Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. This discovery has raised significant concerns about foreign influence on American political discourse. Elon Musk’s X introduced a new feature on Saturday, allowing users to see the location of an account. This tool, called ‘About This Account,’ displays the country or region where an account is based. While the feature aims to enhance transparency and combat misinformation, it has also sparked controversy. Researchers at NewsGuard, a firm specializing in tracking online misinformation, identified several popular accounts—purportedly run by Americans—that are actually based abroad. These accounts have been disseminating polarizing and misleading claims about U.S. politics, including allegations that Democrats bribed moderators of a 2024 presidential debate. The location feature, while 99.99% accurate according to X’s head of product Nikita Bier, is not foolproof. Accounts can use virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their true location, and some internet providers automatically use proxies, complicating the accuracy of the data. The revelation has divided users, with some praising the transparency and others questioning its implications for privacy. Critics argue that the feature could be seen as an invasion of privacy, while supporters believe it is a necessary step to safeguard the integrity of online discourse. The controversy underscores the ongoing challenges of combating misinformation and foreign influence in the digital age.