Latest news with #MatthewGreen
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi hospitality sector records solid growth in Q2
Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector has witnessed remarkable growth during the second quarter of the year, solidifying its position as a leading global travel destination, according to CBRE, a global leader in commercial real estate. Driven by a combination of leisure, cultural, and religious tourism, the sector saw a 48% increase in international visitors for the three-month period compared to Q2 2024, it stated. The upcoming mega-events, including major sporting tournaments and Expo 2030, are poised to generate substantial demand for accommodation, said the industry expert. The pipeline of new hotel projects is also expanding, particularly in Riyadh, and new brand debuts, such as IHG's EVEN Hotel, are adding to the diversity and appeal of the sector, creating a strong outlook for sustained growth, it added. On the Saudi real estate growth, Matthew Green, Head of Research Mena, said: "This groundbreaking regulation marks a pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia's real estate market. By welcoming foreign investment, we anticipate a transformative shift, driving substantial growth in inbound capital over the next five years." "This will not only support the ambitious FDI targets but also stimulate private sector development, further diversify the non-oil economy, and generate wealth for landowners," stated Green. "Furthermore, it will foster long-term population growth and economic stability by enabling foreign residents to participate in homeownership, a significant social milestone, he added. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Federal NDP plans to have a new leader by end of March
OTTAWA—The New Democratic Party will have a new leader by the end of March next year, the Star has learned, setting up a contest to decide the future of the left-wing political force that was crippled in April's federal election. In a closed-door meeting Thursday, the NDP's federal council agreed on a six-month race starting in September with a $100,000 entry fee, said sources familiar with the discussions. It's seen as a compromise between opposing factions of the party following tense debates and internal discord in the weeks ahead of the decision. Not all rules for the race were decided Thursday. Some had called for a lengthy race with a low-entry fee in an effort to allow more candidates to enter the race and vigorously debate the direction of the party. Others had called for a short race with a higher fee , citing the instability of minority Parliaments and a need to replenish the party's coffers after it had its worst-ever election result. Tensions are expected to remain as the left wing of the party and the center-left battle over the direction of the NDP during the leadership race. Earlier this week, a grassroots group dubbed 'Reclaim Canada's NDP,' supported by former MPs Matthew Green and Rachel Blaney, called on party donors to redirect funds to local riding associations instead of the central party, a significant act of protest in the face of mounting disillusionment with the party's leadership . The party was reduced to just seven seats in Parliament in the April 28 election, losing out on critical rebates from Elections Canada and funding for House of Commons staff and operations and leading to former leader Jagmeet Singh's resignation. It announced this week it was launching a review of the election campaign, led by lawyer and former candidate Emilie Taman. Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson, who is notable for her criticism of the Canadian government's response to the war in Gaza and her past support for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, is widely expected to launch a leadership bid, but has yet to confirm her intention despite signalling an openness to enter the race. Over the last few weeks, she marched with Ontario New Democrats at the Toronto Pride Parade, mingled with labour unions at the Calgary Stampede, and shared a video to social media describing the party's recent election campaign as a 'wake-up call,' that failed to provide leadership and solutions and lost voters' trust. Other potential candidates, include several influential figures on the left-wing of the party, including Green, climate activist Avi Lewis and Winnipeg Centre MP Leah Gazan. So far, the only people to announce an intention to run are farmer and former Huron-Bruce candidate Tony McQuail and Yves Engler — a Montreal-based activist known for aggressive confrontations with elected officials of all stripes over the war in Gaza.
The National
03-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai's new first-time home buyer scheme to benefit existing residents amid foreign investor surge
A new Dubai scheme to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder will support existing residents, at a time when foreign investors are descending on the surging property market. The campaign, launched on Wednesday, is only open to Emiratis and residents who do not own any freehold residential property in the emirate. Under the initiative, first-time buyers will have priority access to new homes from participating developers as well as existing inventory, discounts or limited-time offers on the sales price of off-plan units, flexible payment plans and 'improved' mortgage options with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees. The Dubai Land Department registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates. Investors will also be entitled to automatic eligibility checks for residency programmes, the Dubai Rest app says. The initiative will cover properties valued at up to Dh5 million ($1.36 million). There is no salary criteria for investors to participate and it is left to banks to decide on financing, depending on buyers' credit scores. People of all nationalities, aged 18 or over, with an Emirates ID can take part in the initiative. Matthew Green, head of research at CBRE Mena, says since the initiative is only available to UAE nationals and residents, it will help to balance against the volume of foreign non-residents who have bought off-plan properties in recent years. 'This whole thing is clearly designed to pull in new investors, locals and expats alike,' says Shazia, a property owner in Dubai who didn't want to give her full name. 'With low entry prices and easy payment plans, it's a smart way for expats to get into the property market, especially those who are looking to invest long term but have been pushed back due to the ongoing price increases. 'The fact that it's interest-free? Huge bonus, especially with Tier 1 developers. That alone will catch a lot of attention and totally supports the idea of ownership. But let's be real – the success of this will come down to property prices. If they stay attractive, this could really take off,' she says. Reema Ramesh, who owns property in Dubai's Al Furjan, says the scheme will be welcomed by residents, who rarely get access to projects during developer launch events, which are dominated by property brokers and investors. 'Many [end-users] have been outpriced from the market due to the steady rise in values and this programme will incentivise those sitting on the fence to commit to property ownership,' she adds. What is the programme's goal? The core objective is to encourage more residents to transition from renting to owning, according to Farooq Syed, chief executive of Springfield Properties. With rents continuing to rise, this scheme gives people the opportunity to build equity and participate in the long-term value of the Dubai property market, he says. Are off-plan and existing properties covered? The scheme is available for both. The programme applies to off-plan properties with participating developers, and for existing properties with partner banks, according to the DLD. 'That distinction is important – because it allows first-time buyers to explore both new launches and existing inventory based on their personal preferences and timelines,' Mr Syed says, adding the scheme will also help first-time buyers to buy a property from the secondary market. 'Buyers can access preferential interest rates and expedited approvals from participating banks when purchasing ready properties. This creates a real pathway for individuals who may have previously thought the market was out of reach, especially in the secondary space,' he says. However, investors can benefit only with one partner developer and one participating bank, according to the DLD. Which developers can investors buy from? The DLD is working with 13 developers: Emaar, Nakheel, Azizi, Wasl, Dubai Properties, Damac, Danube, Binghatti, Meraas, Ellington Properties, Beyond Developments, Majid Al Futtaim and Palma Development. It has also linked up with five banks – Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, Mashreq Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai – for the initiative. 'When more people are empowered to explore home ownership, the buyer pool expands and that shift will influence developer strategies,' Mr Syed reckons. 'We expect more tailored offerings from developers aiming to capture this new audience segment. The competitive environment will likely drive attractive incentives.' How to participate Applicants should register on the DLD website or Dubai Rest app to start the process. Once they have been verified and deemed eligible, they will receive a first-time homebuyer QR code from the DLD. This can be used to access programme benefits through participating developers and banks. Once users successfully register, the selected developers will begin contacting eligible customers ahead of each project launch. There are no additional fees to apply for or participate in the programme. Where can first-time buyers purchase property? There are no exclusive zones earmarked yet. However, significant traction is expected in emerging, more affordable areas such as Dubai Land Residential Complex (DLRC), Liwan, Silicon Oasis, Al Warsan and Marjan, Mr Syed says. These communities already offer attractive entry points for first-time buyers and are likely to benefit from increased demand under this scheme, he says. Does the scheme pose a risk to banks? The risk to banks is relatively low since real estate lending is asset-backed, and existing regulatory frameworks will protect all parties, Mr Syed explains. 'We need to wait and see how this initiative will be integrated with banks,' according to Sunil Tekchandani, managing director and partner at YOUAE Mortgages, a mortgage consultancy. 'Generally, banks set their pricing based on their internal cost of funds, and each bank has different pricing structures. Therefore, it's essential to understand what kind of preferential pricing or offers they will provide to clients.' Mr Green from CBRE says mortgages of sub-4 per cent are expected to be made available, if banks are trying to offer below currently available rates. Things to know Once users submit the first-time homebuyer form, they authorise the sharing of their credit score and consent to being contacted by developers and brokers, the Dubai Rest app says. Also, once you purchase a property, you will lose your first-time home buyer status and cannot participate in the programme again even if you sell your property, the app adds.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘No soup for you!': Seinfeld's Soup Nazi serves fans (and a cause) in New Westminster
Actor Larry Thomas, best known for his unforgettable 'No soup for you!' catchphrase, made a special appearance Sunday at Greens & Beans Deli in New Westminster. Three decades after his iconic line first aired on Seinfeld, the Soup Nazi is still serving up laughs – and soup – for a good cause. Actor Larry Thomas, best known for his unforgettable 'No soup for you!' catchphrase, made a special appearance Sunday at Greens & Beans Deli in New Westminster. Fans lined up for a bowl and a chance to meet the man behind one of the most quotable characters in sitcom history. 'I told him my mom passed away a few years ago, and watching Seinfeld was something we always did as a family,' said local resident Chris Keough. 'The Soup Nazi was her favourite character.' Proceeds from the event went to support victims of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy. For Thomas, it was more than just reliving a role. 'We always have fun doing this,' he said. 'But just being able to raise money and help people – how could you not?' Thomas has made appearances at the deli before, including a 2017 event to support wildfire relief efforts. Deli owner Matthew Green says it's all about bringing people together. 'If you can put smiles on faces while also helping people in need – that's the ultimate recipe for success.' Even kids too young to have seen the original show were in on the fun. Ten-year-old Attila stole the spotlight with a full Soup Nazi performance, earning cheers – and approval – from Thomas himself. The fundraiser brought in over $10,000.
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton-area Today: ‘I'll always take free food' says 17-year-old restaurant critic + Toasted Tesla obstructs traffic
G ood morning! It's May 5, here are the top stories today in the Hamilton area. Expect more wet weather and possible thunderstorms. Environment Canada is forecasting a high of 12 C at the airport weather station. There are no alerts. Find the latest provincial road closures and traffic incidents via Ontario 511 . Closures in Hamilton are available on the Hamilton police incident feed . Taking transit today? Find the latest GO Transit service updates here . The latest information on local bus services are available here: Hamilton , Burlington and Oakville . Hamilton student Giuseppe Palermo rates restaurants. The 17-year-old is filming a series of reviews for his peers at St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek. A scorched E-vehicle was to blame for hours of lane closures Saturday. The Tesla was difficult to extinguish, provincial police said and 'kept reigniting.' Council's attempt to axe a developer's tree-chopping plan contradicted planning staff's recommendation for the Ancaster site. The plan to remove hundreds of trees has left some advocates wondering how a forest could be classified as 'neighbourhoods' in the area's secondary plan. A 40-year-old man was arrested on the Mountain by police Friday night, hours after three people were injured in a stabbing at the Hamilton Downtown Mosque. Despite an election loss to a Liberal Mississauga resident, outgoing Hamilton Centre MP Matthew Green isn't seeing red. He's already planning a fight to take the seat back next election. Subscribe to our newsletters for the latest local content .
