After Instagram restrictions, Meta to introduce teen accounts for Facebook
Paris, France -- Meta on Tuesday announced that it was extending its teen accounts to its social network Facebook, after...Technology Business Culture & Society Geostrategy Global Social Tech & Media
Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade grows by 9% in 2024 to $83bn
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi Customs reported a 9 percent increase in the emirate’s non-oil foreign trade in 2024,...Business Economy
Iran and Russia to speed up railway project along Caspian Sea
Tehran, Iran--Iran will begin construction work on joint railway projects with Russia as part of the International North-South Transport Corridor...The two countries consider the 162 km railway line along the Caspian Sea shoreline as a crucial component of the International North-South Transport Corridor
The Iranian first vice president said the design proposals and contracts for the Astara-Bandar Abbas railway have also been reviewed by both the Islamic republic of Iran and Russia
UAE owns 40% of aircraft fleet in Arab region, says ACAO official
Dubai, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds nearly 40 percent of the aircraft fleet in the Arab region,...UAE's aviation sector enjoys global confidence regionally and internationally, competing with major airlines in Europe and North America, said Abdennabi Manar.
Manar anticipated that the UAE aviation sector would continue its upward growth trajectory, aligning with the substantial growth witnessed in the Arab aviation sector.
European banks lack transparency on green finance: NGO
ShareAction said banks amplify "green credentials to their customers and shareholders" but there is a "structural" lack of transparency on...Only four banks have demonstrated how they have calculated green finance targets
The study questioned some decisions being counted towards meeting green finance targets
Oman LNG signs sale-and-purchase agreement with BP to deliver gas
Muscat, Oman--Oman LNG has entered into a sale-and-purchase agreement (SPA) with BP to deliver a total of 1 million metric...The new agreement comes on the back of many SPAs signed between the two companies in the recent past to supply energy from Oman
Oman LNG said the company is not just a reliable gas supplier but it contributes to global energy security and adds value to the local economy
Global ESG assets poised to reach $53 trillion by 2025
"This significant growth is driven by a combination of factors, including the impact of the pandemic and the sustainable recovery...Innovative financial instruments are increasingly pivotal in the surging ESG market, drawing heightened investor interest in sustainable, ESG-focused investment products.
On a regional level, the UAE and GCC markets are at the forefront of promoting ESG practices as investor interest is growing in the Green Index and the ESG Index
Northvolt says it develops new sodium-ion battery
Stockholm, Sweden - Battery group Northvolt said on Tuesday it had developed a new sodium-ion battery, a technology using less critical...Sodium-ion batteries are viewed as a cheaper and in some respects safer alternative to the lithium-ion batteries.
While sodium-ion technology has been around for decades, it has lagged lithium-ion batteries in performance.
Tax havens only half the story, says OECD
Paris, France - Tax havens are blamed for lower public revenues elsewhere as they lure away multinational firms but a study...Half the profits booked by multinationals benefitting from low tax rates were from countries that have high rates but offer various tax breaks to attract investments.
"Many jurisdictions typically considered (to be) 'high tax' offer various incentives which can lead to substantially reduced tax rates," said the report further.
Indonesia unveils plan to bring $20bn energy investment from West
Jakarta, Indonesia - Indonesia on Tuesday launched an investment plan to attract $20 billion pledged by Western nations in a renewable...The roadmap, which comes less than two weeks before the COP28 summit in Dubai, outlines Jakarta's vision to reach net-zero power sector emissions by 2050.
Under the plan, Indonesia will seek to slash its carbon dioxide emissions to 250 million metric tons for its on-grid power sector by 2030.
EGA begins construction of UAE’s largest aluminum recycling plant
ABU DHABI, UAE - Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) on Tuesday announced the start of construction of the country’s largest aluminum...The state-of-the-art facility, with an annual production capacity of 170,000 tonnes, is being built adjacent to EGA's existing smelter in Al Taweelah.
Completion of the plant is anticipated within the next three years, positioning EGA as the UAE's leading consumer of aluminum scrap.
Sustainable aviation fuel production lags behind demand: IATA official
Dubai, UAE -- The current production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) represents less than 1 percent of the sector's demand,...The current production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) represents less than 1 percent of the sector's demand.
Al-Eisawi also noted that global travel has recovered more than 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels, exceeding 100 percent in the Middle East region.
