The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces unique challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into sovereign credit assessments. This research study examines environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors embedded in the lending policies of jurisdictional institutions in MENA. By analyzing existing literature and case studies, we identify key drivers and barriers to ESG integration in sovereign lending. Our findings suggest a growing recognition of sustainability’s importance in financial stability and credit, driven by global climate guarantees and local socio-economic development. However, challenges such as data availability, regulatory frameworks, and market acceptance persist. This paper provides an overview of current practices, highlights best practices, and offers recommendations to enhance ESG integration in sovereign debt reviews in the MENA region. The study concludes that a robust ESG framework is necessary to accurately reflect the long-term risks and opportunities associated with sovereign debt, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth regionally.

At present, states and entire regions that possess significant reserves of sought-after minerals have great potential to maintain and even improve their socio-economic position in the foreseeable future. Since the beginning of 2000, the increase in mining volumes of minerals has been more than 50%; however, more than half of all extracted raw materials fall to only five leading countries: China, the USA, the Russian Federation, Australia, and India. This article presents the results of the analysis of the global structure of mineral production by type and geographic region. The article provides an in-depth analysis of the world’s leading mining companies, identifying the key players in the industry. A comprehensive overview of each company’s performance, including key financial indicators and production statistics, is presented. The main environmental risks as a result of the continued increase in the global scale of mining have been identified. The prospects for the development of the mining sector are shown. The results of the study can be used by the scientific community as an information source.

The chemical reinforcement of sandy soils is usually carried out to improve their properties and meet specific engineering requirements. Nevertheless, conventional reinforcement agents are often expensive; the process is energy-intensive and causes serious environmental issues. Therefore, developing a cost-effective, room-temperature-based method that uses recyclable chemicals is necessary. In the current study, poly (styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (PS-PMMA) is used as a stabilizer to reinforce sandy soil. The copolymer-reinforced sand samples were prepared using the one-step bulk polymerization method at room temperature. The mechanical strength of the copolymer-reinforced sand samples depends on the ratio of the PS-PMMA copolymer to the sand. The higher the copolymer-to-sand ratio, the higher the sample’s compressive strength. The sand (70 wt.%)-PS-PMMA (30 wt.%) sample exhibited the highest compressive strength of 1900 psi. The copolymer matrix enwraps the sand particles to form a stable structure with high compressive strengths.

In recent times, there has been a surge of interest in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly within the realm of online advertising. This research focuses on the critical examination of AI’s role in enhancing customer experience (CX) across diverse business applications. The aim is to identify key themes, assess the impact of AI-powered CX initiatives, and highlight directions for future research. Employing a systematic and comprehensive approach, the study analyzes academic publications, industry reports, and case studies to extract theoretical frameworks, empirical findings, and practical insights. The findings underscore a significant transformation catalyzed by AI integration into Customer Relationship Management (CRM). AI enables personalized interactions, fortifies customer engagement through interactive agents, provides data-driven insights, and empowers informed decision-making throughout the customer journey. Four central themes emerge: personalized service, enhanced engagement, data-driven strategy, and intelligent decision-making. However, challenges such as data privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and potential negative experiences with poorly implemented AI persist. This article contributes significantly to the discourse on AI in CRM by synthesizing the current state, exploring key themes, and suggesting research avenues. It advocates for responsible AI implementation, emphasizing ethical considerations and guiding organizations in navigating opportunities and challenges.