Global economy under pressure could slow to 2.3 percent: UNCTAD
UNCTAD report '"Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under pressure: Uncertainty reshapes global economic prospects” cited mounting threats including trade policy shocks, financial volatility and a surge in uncertainty that risk derailing the global outlook.
Boursa Kuwait, Tadawul sign pact
The deal is expected to boost capital markets in the region.WHO sees Covid-19 emergency dying out in 2023
Urging China to share information that might pinpoint how the pandemic started, the WHO has said that it was hoping that Covid-19 would no longer be a public health emergency in 2023. The WHO said the virus was here to stay and would have to be managed like other respiratory...Dubai brings in new rules to govern its Digital Economy Court
Dubai, UAE--The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court has launched a new set of industry-first specialised rules for its recently formed Digital Economy Court (DEC) Division.A leading international judicial expertise Justice Michael Black of England & Wales has been recruited to oversee and operate the new court’s cutting-edge digital infrastructure...Morocco lose game but win hearts all over world
Casablanca, Morocco--They may have fallen just short of reaching the World Cup final, but Moroccans on Wednesday hailed their team's historic run as it ended with a 2-0 defeat to reigning champions France."They played a great game but luck wasn't on our side," said supporter Oussama Abdouh in Casablanca."Still, we stood...Recession in Germany to be lower than predicted, says Ifo Institute
Ifo's positive outlook came a day after a closely watched survey showed German investor confidence rising again in December.EU energy ministers push gas price talks into next week
Gas prices are high, albeit lower than during the middle of the year, spurring worries that European homes and businesses could face blackouts or unpayable bills, if not this winter then next.UK inflation slows to 10.7% in November
The data was published on the eve of an interest rate decision from the Bank of England, which is widely expected to deliver the ninth hike in a row as policymakers try to tackle rampant prices. It also comes as strikes spread across the economy, with workers protesting over salaries...US Fed expected to slow pace of rate hikes as inflation eases
The consumer price index, a key gauge of inflation, logged its smallest annual increase in nearly a year, fueling optimism that the Fed could soon moderate its efforts. Households have been squeezed by red-hot prices, with conditions worsened by surging food and energy costs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and...UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation to promote martial art in China
Abu Dhabi, UAE--The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and China’s Generations Fund have signed an agreement to promote the culture of Jiu-Jitsu in China.The agreement allows both parties to utilize Jiu-Jitsu in accelerating sporting cooperation between the UAE and China.The importance of the agreement stems from the fact that it follows the...IMF says more financing needed for climate change fund
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva has regretted the shortage of funds needed to help low-income countries tackle the impacts of climate change. Although IMF has secured $40 billion worth of commitments, its chief still feels that the amount is "nothing in comparison with the needs."Inflation shoots up in Jordan to 4.22% in November
Amman, Jordan-- Jordan's inflation shot up 4.22%, reaching to 106.68 points during the period from January to the end of November 2022, compared to 102.36 points during for the same period in 2021.The Department of Statistics stated today in its monthly report that some of the most prominent commodity groups...Qatar posts budget surplus of $8bn in third quarter
Doha, Qatar - Qatar posted a budget surplus of QR 30 billion ($8 billion) for the third quarter of 2022, the Finance Ministry announced Tuesday.In its briefing on the budget, the Ministry said that the total revenues for this quarter amounted to QR 81.8 billion ($22 billion), of which QR...KSA, UAE lead GCC growth amidst global woes
Saudi Arabia's GDP witnesses 9.3 percent increase in the third quarter of this year as the rally in oil prices has fuelled economic growth across the Gulf region.Sudan inks US$6bn UAE deal for new Red Sea port
Sudan signed an initial US$6 billion deal led by United Arab Emirates' AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build a vast new Red Sea port and economic zone. "The massive project will give a strong boost to the national economy and will bring countless benefits for the country," said...Bank of China lists $300m bonds
The bank's Fitch A ratings bonds were listed on Nasdaq Dubai.UAE Financial Restructuring Committee, World Bank discuss bankruptcy law
ABU DHABI, UAE - Members of the Consultative Council of UAE's Financial Restructuring Committee (FRC) has met with experts from the World Bank Group (WBG).The meeting was held virtually and sought to discuss the latest updates on amendments to the bankruptcy law, which is being implemented as a joint project...Governments of UAE, Egypt launch ‘Egypt Services Center’
ASWAN, EGYPT - The governments of the UAE and Egypt inaugurated the Egypt Services Center in the Aswan Governorate, which is the first of its kind in Egypt. The inauguration is part of the strategic partnership between the two countries in government modernization. The Emirati delegation which attended the inauguration...China begins WTO dispute against US chip export curbs
Beijing, China—China has filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization over US restrictions on chip exports, Beijing's commerce ministry said in a statement late Monday, accusing Washington of threatening global supply chains. The United States in October announced new export controls aimed at restricting China's ability to buy and manufacture...Dubai races ahead to be global epicenter for crypto
While the crypto ecosystem still reels from the collapse of FTX, and investor apprehension about the future of the digital asset, Dubai's regulatory mechanism to oversee cryptocurrency entices big players to the city.Jordan and Saudi Arabia to boost cooperation, strategic ties
Amman, Jordan— Jordan and Saudi Arabia held discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields and boosting strategic ties between the two countries. The ministerial meetings were held as part of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh's working visit with a ministerial delegation, where he will meet with Saudi senior officials. Also...EDB, ADCB ink pact for UAE SMEs
The MoU will enable SMEs access to financing options.Amgen to buy Horizon Therapeutics
The US biopharma firm will pay US$28 billion for the deal.GPSSA clarifies conditions of insured individuals
ABU DHABI, UAE - The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) said that the registration of insured individuals in the private sector with the authority is the first step towards receiving benefits as part of GPSSA’s social insurance system. This is in addition to benefits provided by the NAFIS...UK economy posts growth as GDP rises 0.5% in October
Gross domestic product fell 0.6 percent in September after businesses closed for the royal funeral, and Britain's economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the third quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).ECB mulls rate hike slowdown on ‘peak inflation’ hopes
As part of its monetary policy tightening, the ECB will on Thursday outline the next steps in its efforts to slim down the bank's massive balance sheet. It has already made changes to the terms of an ultra-cheap bank loan scheme, aimed at keeping credit flowing during the pandemic, in...Dubai Customs and South Korea to boost trade ties
Dubai, UAE— Dubai Customs and a delegation from South Korea have discussed ways to further develop mutual trade cooperation. Dubai Customs also shared their experience in developing smart customs services and digital systems with the delegation. The meeting, held at Dubai Customs headquarters, shed light on virtual reality programmes that...TBI denies loan for ‘fake projects’, says recovered 1 trillion, 500 billion dinars
Responding to a story published on one of the satellite channels, the bank explained the amount of the total loans in the bank is inaccurate.China scraps Covid tracking app as virus rules ease
More than two years after it was launched, China will retire "Communications Itinerary Card", which tracks people who have been to a high-risk area based on their phone signal. The step is seen as a milestone in the country's rapid turn away from its zero-tolerance coronavirus strategy.Algeria’s Sonatrach starts production in new gas field
The company announced the completion of production of the Tinrhert gas field at the end of November 2022.ACWA Power signs deal with China
The $1.5bn deal will herald a new energy transition phase.Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to jointly develop Al-Durra gas field
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwait on Sunday to develop Al-Durra gas field shared between the two countries. President and CEO of Saudi Arabian Oil Company Eng. Ali Bin Saleh Al Ajmi signed the MoU for the Saudi side, while CEO Kuwait Gulf...Turkey’s auto sector grows 6% from Jan-Nov 2022
The sector witnessed the manufacturing of 1,210,331 cars in the period.UN says right environment policies can generate 20 million jobs
“It is critical that as we scale up the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) we make sure we do not also scale up decent work deficits, such as the informal work, low-pay and low productivity conditions that many workers in NbS currently face,” said Vic van Vuuren, Director, ILO Enterprises...Saudi real GDP grows 8.8 percent in third quarter on rise in oil activities
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product grew by 8.8 percent in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year, driven by an increase in oil activities, according to a report released by the kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). GASTAT noted that the real...Russia oil embargo, price cap disrupts tankers
Russia has assembled a "shadow fleet" of more than 100 vessels seeking to circumnavigate the Western sanctions regime. These ships are reportedly using non-Western insurers and selling oil at higher prices to countries that have not subscribed to the new sanctions.US Fed poised for smaller rate hike with eye on wage growth
But the half-point jump analysts expect to see in the Fed's benchmark lending rate will still be a steep rise, as it struggles to cool demand in the United States to bring consumer costs down. Households in the world's biggest economy have been contending with red-hot prices.US dispatches envoys to China in order to repair ties
A month after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden agreed to repair frayed relations, the US is sending its first high-level delegation to China, consisting of Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger.Ethiopia reels from high inflation and economic slowdown
After a decade of dynamic growth during the 2010s, Africa's second most populous country has suffered multiple shocks, including the Covid-19 pandemic, a record drought, a two-year war in its northernmost region of Tigray and the global impact of the invasion of Ukraine.UAE passport ranked most powerful in the world
Dubai, UAE— The United Arab Emirates has been ranked as the country with the world's most powerful travel document. That is according to the latest publication of the Passport Index, a global ranking by Montreal-based citizenship financial advisory firm Arton Capital. The UAE has beaten the likes of Germany, Sweden,...Qatar sees 34 percent decline in building permits in November
Doha, Qatar— Qatar has witnessed a 34 percent decline in building permits to 645 during the month of November, as against 972 permits issued in October this year. According to the monthly statistics issued by the Planning and Statistics Authority on Saturday, the decrease was noted in the all of...Continuous efforts to enhance UAE’s endeavor to confront money laundering crimes: CBUAE Governor
The apex bank "will continue to take all measures to ensure the maintenance of the integrity of the financial system and ensure the compatibility of all financial transactions in the UAE to the requirements guaranteed by the system of registered hawala brokers,” he adds.DEWA receives 29 EOIs for first phase of desalination project at Hassyan
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received 29 expressions of interest (EOIs) to implement the first phase of its 120 Million Gallons Per Day (MIGD) Hassyan Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant (SWRO) Project using the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model. This is the first project implemented...UAE, Turkmenistan review enhancing bilateral relations
ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN - Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber has left the UAE on a working visit to Turkmenistan. Dr. Al Jaber headed a delegation comprising Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE); Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of...US condemns WTO verdict on its steel tariffs
Geneva, Switzerland— Washington condemned the World Trade Organization's verdict Friday on the punitive US tariffs imposed on national security grounds on steel imports from China and other countries. Former US president Donald Trump's administration introduced the tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey and his successor,...US climate envoy commends decision to hold COP28 in UAE
Washington, US— The US has commended the decision to hold next year’s 28th UN climate change conference in the UAE. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said that fossil fuel economies should be encouraged to lead the transition to clean energy. “It’s very exciting that the UAE, an OPEC...Lebanon detains actor as witness in central bank chief case
A noted Lebanese actor Stephanie Saliba was briefly detained by authorities in Lebanon in connection with a money laundering case. The actor was questioned as a witness in a corruption probe involving the country's central bank governor. She had failed to appear for previous summons in the case.Saudi Crown Prince: ‘Arabs will race for progress and renaissance once again. We will prove that every day’
China has established comprehensive strategic partnership relations with 12 Arab countries separately, says Xi Jinping during Arab-China Summit in Riyadh.Tourists, cruises, flights to Aqaba on the rise in December
AQABA, JORDAN - The southern city of Aqaba is welcoming an increasing number of local visitors and foreign tourists of various nationalities, especially from Europe, in the winter tourist season. The movement of cruise ships to the ports of Aqaba and flights to King Hussein International Airport is also witnessing...IFC, UNHCR to jointly boost private sector engagement for refugees, host communities
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Friday announced a joint initiative to create inclusive economic opportunities that will benefit refugees and their host communities. The initiative aims to mobilize private sector projects over the next five years to demonstrate the viability of...Equities boosted by China news before rate calls
Global stocks rose on China's slowing inflation and economic reopening, alongside hopes of less aggressive interest rate hikes next week. Sentiment brightened on China's decision to shift away from its nearly three-year zero-Covid strategy of lockdowns and mass testing that slammed the economy. After protests across the country, leaders have...