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Omar H. Fares

Lecturer in the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
Omar H. Fares is a Lecturer at the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management. Omar earned his Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Science in Management from Toronto Metropolitan University. Omar's main research interest is in the consumer behaviour area, particularly focusing on consumers' interaction with novel digital innovations and the impact of digital innovations on retailers. Omar published his research in different impactful journals, such as Computers in Human Behavior, the Journal of Financial Services Marketing, and the Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science. Omar's professional background combines expertise in sales, market research and planning, corporate strategizing, and leadership & training in the banking and retail sectors. Omar worked for different leading institutions such as Walmart, CIBC, and Fairstone bank (Previously known as Duo Bank)

The rise of ‘sober curiosity’: Why Gen Zers are reducing their alcohol consumption

Nov 26, 2024 13:26 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

Generation Z is leading a significant shift in drinking habits. In fact, compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet. Members of Gen Z consume about one-third less beer and wine...

Meet the ‘new consumer’: How shopper behaviour is changing in a post-inflation world

Jun 06, 2024 11:31 am UTC| Economy

After a long anticipated wait, the Bank of Canada has finally decided to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. The decision marks a departure from the series of interest rate hikes that were previously implemented to curb...

Wendy’s won’t be introducing surge pricing, but it’s nothing new to many industries

Mar 07, 2024 07:38 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy Business

The recent controversy over Wendys pricing strategies is a perfect example of how online word-of-mouth can distort marketing communications and create confusion for consumers. Wendys new president and CEO Kirk Tanner...

OpenAI’s new generative tool Sora could revolutionize marketing and content creation

Feb 22, 2024 06:26 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

OpenAIs new generative Sora tool has sparked lively technology discussions over the past week, generating both enthusiasm and concern among fans and critics. Sora is a text-to-video model that significantly advances the...

What drives people to panic buy during times of crisis: A new study sheds light on the psychology of consumers

Nov 08, 2023 12:00 pm UTC| Health

Fear can cause people to behave irrationally in times of uncertainty. During the pandemic, this took the form of panic buying as people flocked to stores to stock up on essential goods. Some even sought to profit off of...

The rising cost of living is eroding brand loyalty as consumers seek more cost-effective alternatives

Oct 12, 2023 07:19 am UTC| Life

As Canadians grapple with the rising cost of living, many consumers are reevaluating their daily choices and purchase habits. The cost of groceries is forcing many households to make difficult decisions, like having to...

Apple's new Vision Pro mixed-reality headset could bring the metaverse back to life

Jun 10, 2023 11:23 am UTC| Technology

The metaverse a shared online space incorporating 3D graphics where users can interact virtually has been the subject of increased interest and the ambitious goal of big tech companies for the past few...

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Economy

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Fuels Oil Surge as Asian Markets Brace for Impact

Asian markets opened with a cautious tone Monday as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued shaking investor confidence. U.S. President Donald Trumps stern warning to Iran threatening devastating military...

Dollar Holds Steady as Yen Nears Critical 160 Level Amid Iran War Escalation

Global currency markets opened cautiously on Monday as the U.S. dollar maintained its footing while the Japanese yen hovered dangerously close to the psychologically significant 160-per-dollar threshold. Thin trading...

Morgan Stanley: Fed Rate Cuts Still on Track Despite Oil-Driven Inflation

Morgan Stanley believes the Federal Reserve will push forward with interest rate cuts in 2026, even as rising oil prices temporarily inflate headline inflation figures. According to the banks analysts, the current...

China's Energy Resilience Shields Economy From Global Oil Shock, Goldman Sachs Says

Goldman Sachs analysts believe China is among the best-positioned major economies to weather the current oil price shock stemming from escalating Middle East tensions, citing the countrys diversified energy strategy,...

Iran's Stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz: What It Means for Global Markets

U.S. intelligence assessments now confirm that Iran has no intention of loosening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz anytime soon. Tehran views control over this critical oil corridor as its most powerful bargaining chip...

Politics

Taiwan Opposition Leader's China Visit: A Peace Mission Amid Rising Tensions

Taiwans Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is heading to China on Tuesday in a landmark visit the first by a KMT leader in over a decade. She describes the trip as a peace mission, with a potential meeting with...

U.S. and Iran Edge Toward Potential 45-Day Ceasefire Amid Escalating Tensions

Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran are gaining momentum, with mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey joining negotiations aimed at brokering a potential 45-day ceasefire, according to a report by...

Britain Courts Anthropic Amid US Defense Department Dispute

The United Kingdom is actively working to attract Anthropic, the company behind the popular Claude AI app, to expand its footprint in the country. This diplomatic push comes as Anthropic finds itself in the middle of a...

Iran Rejects Trump's Hormuz Ultimatum, Threatens Wider Trade Disruption

Iran has firmly pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trumps latest threats over the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing his ultimatum and introducing new conditions that could further destabilize global trade routes. The...

Trump Issues Deadline for Iran to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Conflict

President Donald Trump has set an 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil shipping routes, warning of severe military consequences if the demand...

Science

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

Technology

OpenAI Executive Shake-Up Ahead of Anticipated 2026 IPO

OpenAI is navigating a significant leadership restructuring at one of the most pivotal moments in its history. The AI powerhouse confirmed that Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap is transitioning into a newly created...

Elon Musk Ties SpaceX IPO Access to Mandatory Grok AI Subscriptions

Elon Musk is reportedly making Grok subscriptions a prerequisite for banks and advisers involved in SpaceXs highly anticipated initial public offering. According to the New York Times, citing insiders familiar with the...

MATCH Act Targets ASML and Chinese Chipmakers in New U.S. Export Crackdown

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has unveiled the MATCH Act, a landmark piece of draft legislation designed to tighten export restrictions on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment destined for China. The...

Microsoft's $10 Billion Japan Investment: AI Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Push

Microsoft is set to pour approximately $10 billion into Japan between now and 2029, channeling funds into data center expansion and artificial intelligence infrastructure to meet the countrys growing demand for data...

Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Sparks Global Movement

Australias landmark social media ban for users under 16, which took effect in December, is reshaping digital policy conversations worldwide. Countries including Spain and Malaysia have signaled interest in adopting similar...