Zoom rolled out new agentic AI capabilities in July, including a Custom AI Compantion add-on. Photo: Zoom
Zoom rolled out new agentic AI capabilities in July, including a Custom AI Compantion add-on. Photo: Zoom
Zoom rolled out new agentic AI capabilities in July, including a Custom AI Compantion add-on. Photo: Zoom
Zoom rolled out new agentic AI capabilities in July, including a Custom AI Compantion add-on. Photo: Zoom

Zoom shares make biggest single-day gain in a year after upgraded forecast


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Zoom Communications' shares soared to their biggest single-day gain in a year after the video-conferencing company raised its annual revenue and profit forecast, amid hybrid work patterns and the adoption of AI in its products.

Shares of the California-based company jumped 12.7 per cent to $82.47 at the end of trading in New York on Friday after Zoom posted a better-than-expected forecast for its full fiscal year that ends in January 2026. This was the biggest single-day increase since August 22, 2024, when it gained 12.97 per cent.

Total revenue is expected to be between $4.825 billion and $4.835 billion for the fiscal year, the company said. This is up from its earlier projection of $4.8 billion to $4.81 billion.

Profit, excluding some items, will be $5.81 a share to $5.84 a share for the fiscal year ending in January. Full fiscal year free cash flow is expected to be between $1.740 billion and $1.780 billion.

“AI is transforming the way we work together, and Zoom is at the forefront, driving innovation that helps people get more done, reduce costs, and deliver better experiences for customers and employees alike,” Eric Yuan, Zoom’s founder and chief executive, said.

Zoom became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic when many companies grappling with shuttered offices and lockdowns turned to its platform to communicate with employees.

Last month, Zoom rolled out new agentic AI capabilities that it said would help users complete tasks across platforms and save time during the work day.

This included a Custom AI Companion add-on that can connect to 16 third-party apps to help orchestrate tasks without leaving Zoom. It also helps small business owners to leverage AI Companion across third-party video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet.

Zoom's revenue for the second quarter to July 31 reached $1.22 billion, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year, driven by acquiring new customers.

The company forecast third-quarter revenue ranging of $1.21 billion to $1.22 billion.

“We delivered an across-the-board strong Q2 marked by achieving our highest year-over-year revenue growth in 11 quarters,” Mr Yuan said.

“With our robust performance, we are happy to raise our full year outlook for revenue, non-GAAP [generally accepted accounting principles] operating income, as well as free cash flow.”

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Afghanistan squad

Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

Remaining fixtures
  • August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
  • September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

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Updated: August 23, 2025, 1:04 PM