Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions
London, United Kingdom -- Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on...
Geostrategy
Art and culture retain power to humanize the Intelligent Age, says WEF’s Fowler
Davos, Switzerland -- In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping our lives, the World Economic Forum's Arts and Culture...
World Economic Forum
Business
Spain urges WTO meet in UAE to address de-globalization
ABU DHABI, UAE - Madrid wants the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) here next...
- The ministerial meeting (MC13) will convene representatives of 164 nations and trading blocs.
- MC13 will seek key reforms to the global trading system, including expanding WTO membership .
Business
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund posts record US$213bn profit
Oslo, Norway - Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, said Tuesday it raked in a record profit of 2.2 trillion...
- Fueled by revenues from Norway's state-owned oil and gas companies, the fund is aimed at financing future spending in the generous welfare state
- Around 71 percent of its portfolio was dedicated to equities, with stakes in 8,859 companies worldwide -- or 1.5 percent of all listed stocks
Business
UPS says will cut 12,000 jobs
The move comes as UPS seeks to "align" its resources.
- Three-quarters of the reductions are set to come in the first half, UPS CEO said.
- The decision comes after UPS reported Q4 2023 revenues of US$24.9 billion.
Geostrategy
Residents of Gaza lament suspension of UN agency funding
Gazans lamented the suspension of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees by several donor countries after Israel charged...
- Several countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Germany and Japan, have announced the suspension of further funding to the agency.
- In Rafah, where 1.5 million displaced people have taken refuge, Gazans said that the support they received from the agency amounted to a lifeline.
Geostrategy
UN chief calls for continuity in aid as battle rages in Gaza
Heavy fighting raged in Gaza amid a row over the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that has called its future...
- The Israeli army said special forces were continuing to engage in "intensive battles" in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.
- UNRWA said it had fired several employees over Israel's accusations of its staff
Geostrategy
Australia, Canada stop UN agency funding after Israeli allegations
Australia and Canada have suspended their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel accused several employees of...
- "We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding," Australian Foreign Minister wrote on social media platform X.
- Canada's International Development Minister announced that Ottawa had “temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA”.
Business
UAE plans to issue bonds, Sukuk valued at $1.3bn in Q1 2024, says official
HONG KONG - UAE Ministry of Finance Undersecretary Younis Haji Al Khoori announced that the ministry's issuance of bonds and...
- The Islamic Treasury Sukuk launched in 2023 and valued at US$299 million experienced robust demand, with bids received worth US$2.2 billion.
- The UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Middle East, with non-oil trade reaching $6 billion (AED22.2 billion) in the first half of 2022.
Geostrategy
Yemen-based Houthis fire missiles at ships in Red Sea, says US
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired three missiles at two merchant ships in the Red Sea in their latest attack in...
- One missile missed its target and a US Navy destroyer shot down the other two, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
- The continuing Houthi action "means we're obviously still going to have to do what we have to do to protect that shipping," he said.
Geostrategy
EU plans measures to protect sensitive technology from China
The European Union unveiled plans to strengthen the bloc's economic security including measures to protect sensitive technology from falling into...
- The fallout from the war in Ukraine hit Europe particularly hard, forcing the bloc to find alternative energy sources.
- Now, it wants to avoid a similar over-reliance on China, which dominates in green technology production and critical raw materials.
Business
Dubai wins right to host 349 business event in 2023
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai consolidated its status as a central hub for international business events in 2023, with the city...
- Driven by Dubai Business Events, the wins reflected a robust 49 percent increase in successful bids compared to 2022.
- DBE brought a citywide offering to the global market that resonated with the core needs of the business events industry.
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions
London, United Kingdom -- Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on...
Geostrategy
Company News
Lamborghini sales up in 2023
Business
EGA to acquire Leichtmetall
Business
Latest News
Masdar to buy stake in Terra-Gen
Business
EU imports US$120.5bn worth of energy products in Q4 2023
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – In the fourth quarter of 2023, the EU imported US$120.5 billion (€111.3 billion) worth of energy products...
Business
Putin vows retribution on Moscow concert hall attacks, as toll rises
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish those behind a "barbaric terrorist attack" on a Moscow concert hall that killed...
Geostrategy
Passenger air traffic has reached pre-pandemic levels, says ICAO
MONTREAL, CANADA – In the first quarter of 2024, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) projected that passenger air traffic...
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Iraqi PM to visit Washington for troop talks
Washington, US – President Joe Biden will welcome Iraq's prime minister on April 15 for talks on the US troop presence,...
- The visit will mark the first trip to Washington by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, who took office in October 2022.
- Sudani in the past has called for an exit of US forces, redeployed nearly 10 years ago as part of a campaign to defeat the Islamic State
Geostrategy
US, Israel hold talks as Gaza truce plan fails at UN
Israel plans to send troops into Gaza's Rafah even without US support, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Antony Blinken, as...
- US has repeatedly blocked ceasefire resolutions at the UN Security Council but tried to pass a text mentioning an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal".
- World leaders including staunch allies of Israel backed the renewed diplomatic push.
Geostrategy
Poorer countries need money before raising climate targets, says COP29 head
Copenhagen, Denmark - Developing countries should not have to set stricter targets for cutting their carbon emissions before funds are available...
- Addressing the meeting, Azerbaijan's Mukhtar Babayev said "there is a growing gap between the needs of developing countries and what's available.
- This year, "finance will lie at the heart of climate diplomacy", said Babayev, the ecology and natural resources minister of Azerbaijan, host of COP29 climate summit.