It has been almost five years to the day since Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji took over as head of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, restructuring several investment interests and making other changes to whip the fund into shape after years of losses. It followed a term at Gulf Air in which he managed the national carrier’s controversial restructure that saw 15 percent of its staff, around 600 […]
UAE-based Aster DM Healthcare is in discussions with its banks to change some terms of a syndicated loan to counter difficult business conditions, including delays to payments it is owed, sources familiar with the matter said. The company, which operates hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the Gulf and India, raised a multi-tranche syndicated loan equivalent to about AED600 million ($163 million) in March last year, Thomson Reuters […]
A surgeon implants a pacemaker to a patient An Ohio man claimed he was forced into a hasty window escape when his house caught fire last year. His pacemaker data obtained by police showed otherwise, and he was charged with arson and insurance fraud. In Pennsylvania, authorities dismissed rape charges after data from a woman’s Fitbit contradicted her version of her whereabouts during the 2015 alleged assault. […]
One day after Rex Tillerson warned that the US is contemplating a pre-emptive military attack on North Korea, the isolated nation announced it has conducted a ground test of a new type of high-thrust rocket engine that leader Kim Jong Un is calling a “revolutionary breakthrough” for the country’s space program, the North’s state media said Sunday. Kim attended Saturday’s test at the Sohae launch site, according […]
Here are the big questions for markets and investors as a new trading week beckons. Does a measured Fed risk being left behind by inflation?After a barrage of central bank meetings, Brexit angst and the first major European election for the year, market volatility across bonds and equities remains quiescent. Having been primed for a more aggressive Federal Reserve and wary of polls being wrong ahead of […]
KUALA LUMPUR Malaysian police are expected to make a few more arrests, including an “important person”, in connection with the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported on Sunday. Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar declined to elaborate on details when speaking to the state media, adding that the arrests would be made at the appropriate time. “I […]
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks at the Social Media Week in Kuala Lumpur, April 23, 2015. ― Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will not be airing the live telecast of a debate between former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh […]
By Angus MacSwan | QAYYARA WEST AIRFIELD, Iraq QAYYARA WEST AIRFIELD, Iraq U.S. troops are hard at work rehabilitating this battle-scarred, rubble-strewn airfield as a logistics and support hub for Iraqi and international forces in the decisive battle against Islamic State for the city of Mosul 60 km to the north. Map of Mosul battlefront: tmsnrt.rs/2fd0nGE The whirl of activity and the return of American soldiers signify […]
There are more than 100 places to get steak in the UAE and more steakhouses are opening all the time, which is testament to the fact that beef is one of the world’s most popular dishes. If there’s one thing the UAE likes to eat it’s beef, and the country’s connoisseurs have long enjoyed a love affair with one particular type – Wagyu. This intensely marbled beef […]
Yas Marina Circuit has announced a brand-new, limited edition driving experience featuring the race-prepared Ferrari 458 GT through the circuit’s regular DriveYAS activity days. An experience previously only available to professional drivers or gentlemen racers, the Circuit is now offering members of the public the unique chance to drive a race-prepared Ferrari 458 GT on the world famous track at the home of the Formula 1 Etihad […]
SEOUL North Korea has conducted a test of a new high-thrust engine at its Tongchang-ri rocket launch station and leader Kim Jong Un said the successful test was “a new birth” of its rocket industry, the reclusive North’s official media said on Sunday. The engine would help North Korea achieve world-class satellite launch capability, KCNA said, indicating the test was of a new type of rocket engine […]
Memorable writing has a strong voice. But how do you develop the genuine tone that distinguishes your writing? Consider these components: What is the level of language? Is it concrete or abstract or somewhere in between? Do you use street slang or the logical argument of a professor of philosophy? What “person” do you work in? Should you use “I” or “we” or “you” or “they” — […]
By Elisabeth O’Leary | ABERDEEN, Scotland ABERDEEN, Scotland Refusal by Britain’s prime minister to discuss an independence referendum would “shatter beyond repair” the United Kingdom’s constitutional structure, Nicola Sturgeon told her Scottish National Party on Saturday. Sturgeon pledged to press on with plans to hold a new Scottish referendum as announced earlier this week, deepening a standoff with the UK government. Party faithful gave her a rapturous […]
The world created by Dr. Seuss appears to be leaping out of the children’s book and into Texas as objects that look like one of the Truffula trees in The Lorax were spotted at the Atlanta State Park. The Truffula Tree The children’s book The Lorax described the Truffula tree as a slow-growing tree which takes ten years to sprout into a sapling and another 10 years to […]
Saudi Arabia said on Friday it had completed all necessary arrangements for Iranian pilgrims to attend the annual haj pilgrimage, the official SPA news agency said, an issue that has created tensions between the two regional powers in the past. The news agency said the arrangements were completed after a meeting took place with an Iranian delegation on February 23. Iran’s Tasnim news agency said on March […]
MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shrugged off yesterday the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines’ warning that Department Order No. 174 would lead to massive displacement of workers. But aside from employers’ groups, more labor organizations have questioned DOLE’s new policy on contracting and subcontracting and urged President Duterte to reject it. In a statement, DOLE Undersecretary Bernard Olalia noted […]
Apple, Huawei, LG, Samsung, Sony lead the way as retail extravaganza prepares to open its doors to thousands of visitors in Dubai Global smartphone revenues continue to grow; 97% of UAE users reliant on WhatsApp for communication 18 March 2017 Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Thinner, faster and even more intelligent than we could have imagined, smartphones are back with a bang this year and leading […]
It is now well-established that the economics of cloud computing services add massive value to the business, a contention supported both by research and by the number of organisations that either have moved or are now moving production systems into the cloud. Challenges remain of course, and among them is automation. Cloudy challenges Cloud certainly changes the economics of IT but it does not necessarily change all […]
By Allison Lampert | MONTREAL MONTREAL Bombardier Inc would suffer “irreparable harm” to its global reputation if it loses a light train contract from a Toronto transportation agency, a senior company official said in recent court filings. The Canadian plane and train maker, which is fighting to save the C$770 million ($573 million) contract with Toronto’s Metrolinx, will seek an injunction on March 21 to prevent […]
Given the distinctly MacBook-like look and feel of many Windows ultraportables, we were pleased to see that Acer’s new Swift 5 manages to make a more individual design statement — while still keeping its prices attractively competitive. Even better is the fact that the Swift 5 pulls off the difficult balancing act of delivering affordable ultrabook functionality — including good performance and portability — without making too […]
Real growth in the non-oil sector of Bahrain’s economy reached an annual rate of 4.7 percent in the third quarter of 2016, according to new official figures. This marked a clear acceleration from the 3.6 percent pace seen during Q2, said the country’s Economic Development Board in its latest research note. Overall, during the first three quarters of 2016 the Bahraini economy expanded by a real 3.6 […]
A man was shot dead by security forces after seizing a soldier’s gun at Paris Orly airport on Saturday while in a separate incident a police officer was shot and injured north of the French capital, the French Interior Ministry said. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack ???? #BREAKING – Orly airport incident and northern Paris shooting being investigated as terrorist attacks https://t.co/LZOaUn14uh pic.twitter.com/iS7aME9tpb […]
Despite another turbulent few days in British politics, the pound is ending the week on a firmer footing. Sterling brushed off the latest bout of Brexit nerves and further worries about a break-up of the UK, closing near $1.24 on Friday. Its revival was aided by a dovish Federal Reserve and a hawkish Bank of England. However, there are still plenty of currency-watchers who see further trouble […]
UAE-based retailer Paris Gallery has announced plans to open 30 new stores across the Middle East over the next five years. The company said in a statement that its expansion would focus mainly on the Gulf region and would see its workforce grow to about 5,100 employees, up from 3,500. The total projected retail area in operation will reach 3.2 million square feet by 2021, it added. […]
