MANILA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the United States on Saturday to prepare for repeal of an agreement on deployment of troops and equipment for exercises, declaring “bye-bye America”, and we don’t need your money. But Duterte suggested relations could improve under a President Donald Trump. “I like your mouth, it’s like mine, yes Mr President. We are similar and people with the same feathers flock together.” […]
5918 25 by Shannon K. O’Neil December 16, 2016 A worker unloads palm fruit at a palm oil plantation in Peat Jaya, Jambi province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra September 15, 2015 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. September 15, 2015 (Reuters/Wahyu Putro A/Antara Foto). Trade Rules Favor Asia, Not the United StatesAsia’s rise in the global trading system continues. Recent World Economic Forum data […]
Last year, I left work in the UAE to study Arabic full-time in Oman. After almost two decades in the Arabian Gulf, I decided it was time. When I first arrived from Canada at the age 13, Arabic wasn’t offered to me at school. I was told I was too old to learn the language and I should focus on GCSE French. I didn’t mind. I only […]
BEIJING China expressed dissatisfaction on Friday after exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama met President Pranab Mukherjee, saying it hoped India would recognise the Nobel Peace Prize winning monk as a separatist in religious guise. Mukherjee hosted the Dalai Lama and other Nobel Peace laureates at a conference on children’s rights at the presidential palace on Sunday. Those who attended, and spoke, included Princess Charlene of […]
By Andrés González | MADRID MADRID French media tycoon Vincent Bollore is bidding for a stake in Spain’s largest sports broadcasting rights firm at the same time as facing off with former Italian president Silvio Berlusconi for control of Mediaset (MS.MI). Bollore’s Vivendi (VIV.PA) is one of 10 bidders, alongside a number of Chinese and U.S. investors, hoping to land either a 30 percent or 51 percent […]
India is set to get more Trump-branded projects as local developers seek to capitalize on the brand. A story from The Wall Street Journal Friday took a look at the many projects around the world connected to the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, including those in India. Unimark Group, a developer based in Kolkata, has tied up to rebrand a previously planned residential apartment building in the eastern […]
By Henning Gloystein | SINGAPORE SINGAPORE Oil prices were stable on Friday as evidence increased that producers in the Middle East were informing customers of upcoming supply cuts as part of a coordinated effort to drain a global glut. But since any production cuts will only hit markets early next year and Iraq is still raising sales to Asia, analysts at Goldman Sachs said that the price […]
Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for December 16, 2016, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. newslide Abu Dhabi Festive fun Visit Al Maryah Island for the Winter Wonderland, featuring cosy cottages hosting activities including bauble-decorating, cracker-making and gingerbread-house-decorating. Plus there’s a skating rink and snow park, and live performances of […]
Friday 08:00 GMT Overview Equity markets are steady, holding near recent highs, as the dollar’s bounce to a 14-year peak on expectations of a more hawkish Federal Reserve pauses for breath. Bond markets are calmer too after the recent battering that pushed yields to their richest in many months, while gold edges up. Hot topic The dollar and surging bond yields has been one of the biggest […]
By J.R. Wu | TAIPEI TAIPEI Before getting too carried away with Taiwan’s elevated status under a Donald Trump presidency, President Tsai Ing-wen might want to check her bank balance. Trump’s suggestion that the “one China” principle – that Taiwan is a part of China – was up for negotiation has already prompted sabre-rattling from Chinese state media and some in the military establishment. Taipei’s ability to […]
Latest asset of Abu Dhabi’s cruise tourism sector set to change face of ‘winter sun’ tourism in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi-UAE: December 15, 2016 Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, Abu Dhabi Ports today has officially opened Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, offering cruise ship passengers a new beach destination with unmatched tourism experiences. […]
Friday 02:10 GMT Overview The US dollar has climbed to a 14-year high in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s decision this week to lift interest rates, putting pressure on Asian currencies and prompting caution among traders of regional stocks. Hot topic The dollar has been one of the biggest stories of the December quarter thanks to a more robust outlook for US inflation and growth. That […]
Dec 15, 2016 11:35 am IST Hindus have made large gains in the amount of time they spend in school, but they still have the lowest educational attainment of any major religion worldwide, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. The researchers said they used four measures of educational attainment: no formal schooling, primary education, secondary education and post-secondary education across all major religions worldwide. It […]
ABU DHABI // Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach was opened on Thursday, creating another keynote destination for cruise ship passengers in the Arabian Gulf. The ceremony was performed by Mohammed Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region. “The development of new economic and tourism projects across the Western Region is […]
Sky News Australia Indonesian jails ripe for ISIS recruitersSky News AustraliaAlmost a year after Jakarta was rocked by a terrorist attack and a crackdown on Indonesia’s prison system was announced, systemic problems continue to plague deradicalisation efforts inside, a report warns. In the first eleven months of 2016, some 120 … and more » (via Google News)
Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for December 14, 2016, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. newslide Abu Dhabi Yoga class Take part in the popular Flow in the Dark yoga class at Bodytree Studio. Enjoy a night of yoga, music and creative expression led by Angela. The lights will be […]
The offshore renminbi exchange rate grew stronger than its onshore counterpart on Thursday after a closely-watched borrowing rate in Hong Kong for loans denominated in China’s currency broke back into the double digits for only the fourth time in 2016. The Hong Kong interbank borrowing rate for offshore renminbi (CNH) overnight loans (CNH Hibor) rose another 4.4 percentage points to 11.8 per cent today, taking the overnight […]
The peaks of fine dining just keep getting higher and higher. A caravan of roving chefs and their 15 guests is currently making its way up the Himalayas toward the base camp at Mount Everest, where, 17,500 feet above sea level and amid the lashing winds and bone-penetrating chill of the Nepalese winter, food will be served. The One Star House Party, as the project has been […]
TOKYO The United States military on Wednesday grounded its tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft in Japan after Tokyo called for a halt to flights following a crash southwest of Okinawa island, the first accident involving the aircraft in the Asian nation. The aircraft has become a lightning rod for opposition to the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, with local groups seeking the closure of American bases saying it […]
Smash-hit smartphone game “Pokémon Go” has finally officially arrived in South Asia – but people in the region have been playing the game for months using a hack. Gamers in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will now be able to download the game from app stores, California-based Niantic Inc., the game’s developer and distributor said Tuesday. The augmented reality game stayed at the top […]
Wednesday 02:20 GMT Overview Stock markets across Asia were mixed as anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision dulled the effect of another set of record highs for Wall Street. What to watch All eyes were on the end of the Fed’s two-day policy meeting later in the day, with the US central bank expected to raise interest rates 25 basis points. Roughly a year ago the […]
By Marc Jones | LONDON LONDON A quarter of a century after the collapse of the Soviet Union, life satisfaction in Russia and other ex-Soviet states remains stubbornly low, and enthusiasm for democracy and open market economics is wavering, a survey published on Tuesday showed. The study found that only 15 percent of Russians think their households have a better quality of life, compared with 30 percent […]
By Steve Holland | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump named the head of Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N), Rex Tillerson, as his choice for U.S. secretary of state on Tuesday and won backing from some Republican foreign policy figures ahead of a possible Senate fight over the oilman’s ties to Russia. The Exxon CEO potentially faces difficulties getting confirmed in the Republican-controlled Senate. Some lawmakers worry about his […]
Wall Street looked set to open higher on Tuesday, as investors keep a close watch of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting where it is widely expected to raise interest rates for the second time since the financial crisis. A hike of 25 basis points in the Fed’s target range of 0.25-0.50 percent is priced in, but investors will be examining the Fed’s statement and economic forecasts for […]
