Bank Muscat Achieves Remarkable Growth with RO159mn Net Profit for the First Nine Months of 2023

Bank Muscat has reported a commendable 7.1% year-on-year growth in net profit for the first nine months of 2023, totaling RO158.88mn. This performance underscores the bank’s strength and ability to adapt to economic challenges. Its growth in net interest income and robust financial management signifies its commitment to financial excellence. Moreover, the bank’s responsible approach to managing operating expenses and addressing potential financial risks demonstrates its resilience. With increased customer deposits and a growing asset base, Bank Muscat remains a pivotal player in Oman’s financial sector.
Germany’s Battle to End the Ongoing Recession and Energy Crisis

Germany once hailed as an economic powerhouse, now finds itself at a crossroads. Business leaders and experts are sounding the alarm as the nation grapples with a weakening economy and the challenges of transitioning to green energy. Soaring inflation, sluggish export markets, and high energy costs loom over Germany’s economic landscape, raising concerns about its future. Amid these difficulties, Chancellor Olaf Scholz envisions a new era of economic growth through the transition to renewable energy. However, skepticism remains as experts question the immediate benefits and exorbitant costs associated with this green revolution. Germany must confront its structural weaknesses, such as bureaucracy and an ageing population while addressing industry concerns and shifting dynamics. The road ahead may be challenging, but Germany’s resilience and adaptability will determine its success in securing a prosperous future.
Food Delivery Service CoLab Joins List of Firms in Ceasing Operations in Australia

CoLab, the Australian food delivery service, has announced winding up its operations last week. CoLab, is the seventh food delivery brand that have closed their operations in Australia in the last one year.
CoLab is a direct-to-customer retailer website and has entered voluntary administration last Thursday after failing to gain a fresh round of funding. failing to gain financing to continue its operations. It was launched as part of a collaboration between ChefPrep and Co-lab Pantry.
In a LinkedIn post, CoLab’s co-founder and CEO Josh Abulafia said that the company’s staff had been made redundant. “It’s been a tough day for CoLab and unfortunately we have had to let the team go,” he posted.
“As a quick background we (were) in the process of closing out a new round of financing that fell through. We then had significant interest for the company to be acquired and decided to put the company into VA to help, but due to unforeseen events our timelines became truncated,” Abulafia added.
One of the major reasons for the closure of these brands is said to be challenging economic conditions resulting in a rise in the cost of living where consumers have less money to spend.
Other Firms
Earlier, Sydney-based MilkRun, which was in the headlines for promising to deliver groceries within 10 minutes a customer placed order. The firm raised more than $5759 million from some of the biggest names in Australian venture capital, including Atlassian billionare Mike Cannon-Brookes.
In an internal email to the employees on Tuesday last, MilkRuns co-founder and chief executive Dany Milham said: “I am writing to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to wind down the business, and as a result, MilkRun will cease trading this Friday.”
According to Australian media reports, despite banking an impressive $75 million funding round led by a US venture capital firm in 2022, Milham blamed worsening economic conditions for the shock collapse.
Dany Milham had already found success with fast-delivering mattress company Koala. Less than a year ago he was confidently predicting MilkRun would be bigger than Coles or Woolworths within ten years.
The other five delivery service firms, which shut down in the Australian market, included three local startups promising 10-minute deliveries – ‘Send’ in May 2022, ‘Voly’ and British-owned ‘Deliveroo,’ both of which ceased operations in November 2022.
DashMart, which was launched in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane by food courier platform DoorDash in January 2023 claiming it would succeed where its rivals had failed, closed its operations last month.
While Melbourne food delivery platform Providoor became the sixth delivery firm to enter liquidation last month, Germany’s Foodora collapsed in August 2018.
Dyson to Develop New Facilities in Singapore, UK and Philippines

The Singapore headquartered consumer electronics major Dyson on Wednesday announced that it will be building new manufacturing facilities and technological hubs at Tuas in region Singapore, the Philippines, and the UK as part of its ongoing five-year $3.4 billion global investment plan for the development of its software and AI capabilities.
Exclusive: Airbus roiled by poor start to 2023 as industrial pressure grows

The boss of European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) has read the riot act to executives about disappointing deliveries in January and warned them that in 2023 Airbus cannot deliver fewer jets than its now-abandoned target for 2022, industry sources said
Exclusive: Tesla makes China boss highest-profile executive after Musk

Tesla Inc’s China chief Tom Zhu has been promoted to take direct oversight of the electric carmaker’s U.S. assembly plants as well as sales operations in North America and Europe, according to an internal posting of reporting lines reviewed by Reuters.
Exclusive: PepsiCo ends Pepsi, 7UP production in Russia months after promising halt over Ukraine

PepsiCo Inc (PEP.O) has stopped making Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew in Russia nearly six months after the U.S. company said it would suspend sales and production after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
EXCLUSIVE Foxconn India iPhone plant extends closure, workers’ hostels inspected

A Foxconn (2317.TW) iPhone factory in India at the centre of a mass food-poisoning incident will extend a week-long closure by an extra three days, a senior official for the state of Tamil Nadu told Reuters.