Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a combative inaugural speech that Ukraine would not give up Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from it in March. “Crimea was, is, and will be Ukrainian,” Poroshenko said in an emotional address after his swearing-in on Saturday. He was greeted with a standing ovation. He stressed the unity of Ukraine, which is fighting a pro-Russian separatist uprising in the east, and said it […]
The head of the Lebanese movement Hezbollah has said opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has failed, after his victory in presidential elections on Tuesday. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, a staunch ally of Assad, said Syrians had prevented US plans to “confiscate” their will, in a speech broadcast on Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV on Friday. The leader of the armed group, which is heavily involved in Syria’s civil war, […]
Vote winner: Thailand’s rulers attempt to ‘return happiness to the people’ in Bangkok Photo: AFP/Getty Images What to make of the Thai military junta offering free haircuts (in lieu of actual freedom) to the people? It’s an unconventional way to capture hearts and minds, but there’s a fine tradition in the corridors of power of generously providing bread and circuses and tax cuts and Qatari bank transfers to […]
Lapses in hospital infection control measures exacerbated an outbreak of a deadly new viral disease which has infected more than 60 people and killed at least 10 in the United Arab Emirates, health investigators said on Friday. Reporting the findings of a five-day mission to the UAE, experts from the World Health Organisation said, however, that they found no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of new Middle […]
CAIRO — The military-appointed interim president of Egypt on Friday issued an election law that experts say all but eliminates the chance of parliamentary opposition to his successor, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the former general who installed the interim government. “The members of Parliament are almost all definitely going to be loyal to the president in one way or another,” said Zaid al-Ali, who tracks the Egyptian transition […]
The annual Banker Middle East Industry Awards is the Middle East’s foremost gathering of key players within the banking and financial services industry (Dubai – June, 2014) – Some 500 top bankers and financiers from around the region came together at the Gala Dinner held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai to celebrate their achievements. The top awards went to institutions in Saudi Arabia and the UAE; […]
United Arab Emirates, June 2014 – GL Events exhibitions, the organizer of Piscine Middle East exhibition has confirmed the attendance of 2 800 visitors during the second edition of Piscine Middle East held in Abu Dhabi from the 22-24th of April. Most part of these visitors was architects, developers and key buyers specialized in pool and spa industry. The event hosted visitors from 50 different countries. 88% […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s president-elect Petro Poroshenko have discussed a ceasefire and other possible steps to de-escalate the crisis between their countries in a brief meeting in France, French officials said. The meeting hosted by French President Francois Hollande, before D-Day celebrations on Friday, took place as clashes continued in eastern Ukraine near a border crossing with Russia, killing at least 15 pro-Russian separatists overnight. Putin and […]
A suicide bomber and a roadside bomb have struck the convoy of Afghanistan’s presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah as it left a campaign event in the capital Kabul, the Interior Ministry said. Friday’s explosions killed four civilians but left the candidate himself unharmed. In a televised statement shortly after the attack, Abdullah said that several of his security guards had been wounded in the attack. The interior ministry spokesman […]
The worst Qatar stock rout in nine months is creating a buying opportunity for some of the biggest Middle East investors, who say they’re undaunted by speculation the country will lose the right to host the 2022 World Cup. Emirates NBD PJSC, whose wealth management division oversaw about $2.1 billion at the end of 2013, says it’s looking to add stocks because any impact on corporate earnings […]
For consolidating green economy culture and Supported by DEWA and UNDP 5th June 2014, Dubai, UAE : Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) has announced the first class of Carbon Ambassador 2014-2015, as part of a ceremony celebrating the World Environment Day in Al Qouz sustainable building on 5 June 2014. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority initiated the […]
The malls unit of Dubai’s Emaar Properties will hold meetings with fixed income investors ahead of a potential benchmark-sized sukuk issue, Emaar said on Thursday, in what would be a debut debt market transaction for the subsidiary. Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, Morgan Stanley, First Gulf Bank , National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Noor Bank and Standard Chartered will be arranging the meetings on Emaar’s behalf, […]
An impending bond issue by Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications firm Etisalat may not only be the region’s largest deal so far this year, but also set a record for tight pricing as the Gulf becomes more of a mainstream investment destination. Etisalat’s debut bond will replace some of the debt used to fund its 4.2 billion euro ($5.7 billion) purchase of a majority stake in Morocco’s Maroc Telecom […]
ABU DHABI // School pupils from the American Community School in Abu Dhabi said the simplicity of their “The Engineers” robot was key to them clinching top spot at a national robotics competition on Friday. The World Robot Olympiad-UAE drew 180 students from across the country, battling it out in the elementary, junior high and high-school categories at the Fairmont Hotel in the capital, but it was […]
ABU DHABI // School pupils from the American Community School in Abu Dhabi said the simplicity of their “The Engineers” robot was key to them clinching top spot at a national robotics competition yesterday. The World Robot Olympiad-UAE drew 180 students from across the country, battling it out in the elementary, junior high and high-school categories at the Fairmont Hotel in the capital, but it was “The […]
WHO team makes five-day visit to UAE International experts and local authorities agree to continued exchange of information in attempt to reduce risk of further infections ABU DHABI // International infection experts yesterday praised the work of UAE health authorities in attempting to better understand the deadly Mers coronavirus after completing a mission to assess the risk the virus poses to the country. A team from the […]
HE doesn’t live here and doesn’t have a vote but Barak Obama’s decision to throw his weight against the break up of Britain is undoubtedly one of the best bits of news that the opponents of separation could have wished for. There probably won’t be a rash of Better Together stickers in the windows of the White House or in the presidential limousines but his words in […]
A view of southwestern Syria in late April, from an Israeli lookout post in the Golan Heights. Israel has placed soldiers in the Golan to stand guard against any Syrian attack. Nicholas Casey/The Wall Street Journal GOLAN HEIGHTS—Each morning after sunrise, soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces stand on a hill and look into their binoculars over two parallel fences topped in barbed wire that stretch out […]
An aerial view of Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi Reuters Capacity at seaports and airports in the Middle East is growing faster than regional trade, potentially jeopardizing the viability of billions of dollars worth of new investment in transportation infrastructure. Government-led investment in regional logistics and transport has taken off in the past decade, driven by energy-rich Gulf Arab countries trying to carve out a niche as […]
WASHINGTON — For allies who speak often of their unbreakable bonds and constant communication, this has been a season of static between Jerusalem and Washington. The latest eruption was over the announcement this week that the United States would work with a new Palestinian government that emerged from reconciliation talks with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials have condemned the Obama administration in […]
WASHINGTON — Weeks before a Black Hawk helicopter lifted off in the dying light of eastern Afghanistan, carrying with it an American soldier who had spent five years in the hands of the Taliban, American officials grew increasingly worried that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s life might be in jeopardy. A video produced by his captors months earlier had shown him weak and dazed, and there was a growing […]
SHARJAH // Hindus and Sikhs in the emirate can complete the last rites for the dead at Sharjah’s first crematorium, which was finally opened this week. The crematorium is the fourth in the country and has become operational after a hold-up of more than a year owing to documentation, clearance permissions and delay in the electricity connection provided to the site. “People have been approaching us for […]
ABU DHABI // The influence of Arabic architecture on European buildings should not be underestimated, experts from Spain said at a talk in the capital. As part of the first event in a series of collaborations with Universidad Europea de Madrid, Alhosn University gathered some of Spain’s foremost architects from both universities to discuss how Middle Eastern and Spanish architecture have learnt from each other. Dr Miguel […]
First things first; I would have much preferred it if Alistair Darling hadn’t, as the New Statesman claimed, likened Alex Salmond to that odious North Korean dictator. Such language, if used, always cheapens political debate. But in saying that I’m bound to add that it could only have been a matter of time before the former chancellor responded in kind to the type of abuse he’s had […]
