Japan to restart funding to UN Palestinian refugee agency
Tokyo, Japan--Japan is preparing to resume funding to the UN's crisis-hit Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, the government said. Once the sixth-largest contributor to the agency, Japan joined more than a dozen countries in pausing funding after Israel claimed that 12 of UNRWA's 13,000...
Iraq’s top court rejects fraud claims, ratifies election results
The ruling will allow parliament to meet and pave the way for the election of a president who will then appoint a prime minister tasked with forming a new government. The ratification follows a delay of more than two months since the October 10 legislative polls won by Shiite cleric...12 Ajman banks sign pact with Department of Finance for easy payment plan
The Ajman’s Department of Finance has signed agreements with 12 local banks to offer an "easy payment plan", which allows installment payments for government service fees to be made through the "Ajman Pay" platform when paid using any credit cards of these banks. The participating banks include First Abu Dhabi...UAE honored with UN Public Service Award for government modernization
The UN has awarded the UAE with the United Nations Public Service Award in recognition of its role in government modernization. An official statement said the award came in recognition of the UAE’s achievements in the field of government modernization, building new models of future governments, and its global efforts...UAE and Russia foreign trade reaches $4 billion in 2021
The total foreign trade between Russia and the UAE is set to reach around $4 billion by the end of this year, said Sergey Cherimin, Minister of the Government of Moscow. Local media reports said that in 2020, the trade between the two countries amounted to $3.3 billion. Chermin told...UAE’s curtailed working week rule welcomed
UAE is the first country in the world to offer a national work week that is shorter than the five-day global week, as well as the first Gulf country to do so.Tecom to be listed on DFM
It is part of a strategy to help DFM reach the AED3-trillion markEmirates Stallions acquires stake in WFC
Acquisition aimed at diversifying Emirates Stallions' business.Lebanese currency drops to new low, pound trades 25,000 to dollar
The new record, topping a previous low of more than 24,000 earlier this week, adds to the troubles of the newly-formed Lebanese government.India announces bill to ban cryptocurrencies
India's government will introduce a bill to ban private cryptocurrencies and create a framework for a central bank-backed digital money, parliament said in a shock announcement late Tuesday.Omani finance ministry issues government treasury bills worth $194 million
Oman's finance ministry has issued government treasury bills worth Omani Riyal 75 million ($194 million). Treasury Bills are short-term highly secured financial instruments that provide licensed commercial banks the opportunity to invest their surplus funds. The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) acts as the issue manager and provides the added...Lebanon is failing its people, says UN envoy
Lebanon's government, formed in September, has yet to take serious action to stop its downward spiral.Dubai increases ease of doing business by more than half
This was more than double the target of 30 percent reduction in business setup procedures that the emirate had set earlier this year.Saudi Arabia and US call for end to Sudanese military coup
Taking a strong stance against the military coup in Sudan, Saudi Arabia and the US have condemned the overthrow of the government, and called for the immediate restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government.Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia call for calm in Sudan after coup
In the wake of the military coup in Sudan, many countries of the Middle East have called for peace and calm in the country. The military overthrew the transitional government, imposing a state of emergency.Rio Tinto to ‘halve’ emissions
Mining releases 4-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.Who will form next government in Iraq?
A final tally from the ballot, organised to appease youth-led anti-government protests that began in 2019, is expected in the next few weeks, but so far no bloc has a clear mandate.That means the numerous political parties will engage in lengthy negotiations to form alliances and name a new prime...Look beyond subsidies to fight high energy prices: IMF
Governments should avoid using general subsidies as a way to soften the blow from recent high energy prices, said Paulo Medas from the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department. Broad subsidies are expensive, so policymakers instead should use targeted aid to help low-income families, he added.Cyber-pandemic quickened UAE digital push
Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti has said the UAE is fully equipped to transition into AI for governance and economy.WSJ reports China preparing for Evergrande’s downfall
The Wall Street Journal, the top American newspaper, has reported that Chinese authorities are asking local governments to prepare for the potential downfall of debt-ridden China Evergrande Group.Libya parliament withdraws confidence from unity government
Eighty-nine of the 113 MPs present in the eastern city of Tobruk voted to withdraw confidence from the Tripoli-based administration of interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.Morocco party alleges violations at polls
Moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party said it would swtich to the 'natural' position as opposition.No end to Lebanese woes as new govt. hikes gasoline price
If the Lebanese were expecting a measure of relief from the new Mikati government, they were badly disappointed. The government hiked the price of gasoline, cutting a subsidy that Prime Minister has said the country cannot afford.Economy in focus as Lebanon’s new cabinet holds first meeting
The meeting, during which a ministerial statement is to be drafted to be submitted to a confidence vote in parliament, opened in the presence of President Michel Aoun. He said in a statement he hoped the committee would pursue negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.Challenges ahead for Lebanon’s new government
Formed after 13 months of political deadlock, tackling the country's worst ever economic crisis ought to be the new government's priority.Lebanon gets new govt amidst economic turmoil
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati signed Friday the decree to form the new government, bringing to an end the 13 months-long deadlock that had hampered the formation of a cabinet.Taliban close to forming government
The announcement of a cabinet may take place on Friday following afternoon prayersIMF suspends Afghanistan’s access to SDR resources
The IMF is expected to complete a $650 billion allocation of Special Drawing Rights, the fund’s unit of exchange based on dollars, euros, yen, sterling and yuan, on Monday, to its 190 member countries in proportion to their shareholdings in the fund.Afghanistan will be ruled by a council: Taliban leader
The insurgent group has made no official statement on the structure of their government even as a key Taliban member held talks on Wednesday with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai. A member of The Taliban delegation that arrived from Doha said that the delegation will hold consultations with local and...TAQA’s net income shoots up 42 percent to $790m in first half
TAQA, the Abu-Dhabi government’s energy holding company, has reported a 42 percent jump in its net income for HI 2021 to $790 million compared to the same period last year, after a big contribution from the oil and gas segment.Riyadh leads Q2 Saudi Arabia residential market boom
Latest review by global property consultant Knight Frank says apartment values in Saudi capital grew by 7.6 percent year on year.Lebanon: New cabinet unlikely by explosion anniversary
Political parties said to be again bickering over portfolios, which prevented government formation during the past one year.Private firms in Oman can use government evaluation system
The existing method of appraisal is based on work experience, an employee’s behavior, and how long he/she spends at work.Dubai to lower, waive off fees on govt services to boost growth
In order to give a fillip to economic activity in Dubai, its government will lower and in some cases completely waive off fees in 88 different categories.Children among 19 killed in Syria clashes
Thursday’s clashes were the fiercest to rock Syria’s Daraa province since its capture by the government in 2018.Fast-track new govt, France to Tunisia
French foreign minister Le Drian said it was "necessary to preserve calm, and the rule of law, and to allow a rapid return to a normal functioning of Tunisia's democratic institutions".Jordan’s revenue, spending shoot up in first half of 2021
Jordan’s revenues during the first five months of 2021 went up by JD848.9 million, registering an increase of 38 per cent compared with the same period in 2020.Doha: Afghan gov’t, Taliban to meet again after inconclusive talks
Senior representatives of the Kabul government including head of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah flew in for two days of intensive talksLebanese economy in a fix as PM-designate Hariri steps down
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri stepped down Thursday, saying he was unable to form a government, nine months after accepting the challenge and as the country sinks deeper into crisis.Middle East govt entities should digitize services fast
Governments need to build necessary foundations to exchange non-sensitive public data Develop interoperable digital platforms and a broad range of technological capabilities Governments in the Middle East need to intensify efforts to digitize services, said a study by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and Strategy&. Hani Zain, partner Middle East...Consultations begin to form new Algeria govt after polls
23 percent turnout seen as a sign of Algerians’ disillusionment with the political class FLN secures 98 of 407 seats in the parliament  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday began consultations for the formation of a new government, a statement from his office said, following a parliamentary election marked by...IMF’s Mideast chief calls for reform program in Lebanon
He pleaded with the international community to help in the effort The IMF’s dialogue with the Mediterranean country has been on hold since its government resigned last August International Monetary Fund head for Mideast has called for a comprehensive reform program that requires what he considers to be a “different...