A broker monitors stock prices on a screen at the Saudi Investment Bank in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia plans to open its stock market, the Arab world’s biggest, to direct investment by foreign financial institutions in the first half of next year. Reuters With a market capitalisation of more than half a trillion dollars, Saudi Arabia’s plan to allow foreigners direct access to its listed companies early next […]
DUBAI // Camels will not be sacrificed during this year’s Haj in Mecca in an attempt to stop the spread of the Mers coronavirus. Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, said he was part of a team that recommended the measures to the Saudi Arabian ministry of health. A genetic link between the Mers found in humans and a […]
DUBAI // About 25,000 pupils will have tablet computers this academic year as the Ministry of Education expands its programme to bring smart learning to classrooms. The Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme, launched last year for pupils in Grade 7 and some in Grade 8, will be expanded to Grades 1 and 5 in chosen schools. It will also be introduced to other pupils in Grade […]
The Emirates Red Crescent has signed an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to provide Dh150 million for future reconstruction projects in Gaza. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and president of ERC, reiterated the UAE’s commitment to standing up for the Palestinian people, and to supporting humanitarian causes. He explained that […]
By removing the boost to people who stay in work, the government will now be penalising those who it should be rewarding Photo: Alamy Britain’s state pension has never been known for its generosity. But one of the lesser known perks of the system is that it’s possible to get a very generous bonus if you decide to carry on working and take your state pension later. As […]
Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks, aircraft and navy ships continued what appears to be a limited advance into the Gaza Strip on Friday, the second day of a ground invasion into the Palestinian territory. Palestinian medics say at least 21 Gaza residents have been killed since the start of the ground offensive, which has the stated aim of destroying tunnels militants have used to attempt […]
Thousands of Israeli soldiers began a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip late Thursday, escalating a 10-day military operation that aims to destroy Hamas’ offensive capabilities, including the group’s weapons arsenal and tunnels that infiltrate Israel’s territory. The Israeli military said the operation was open-ended but limited in its scope, and would be carried out in several areas of the coastal strip. The office of Israeli Prime […]
GAZA — Israel and Hamas militants have agreed to a United Nations request for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza on Thursday. The truce will last five hours to give Palestinian civilians a chance to restock supplies, repair damaged buildings, and get medical care. But Israel warns it will react if militants fire rockets during the truce. Palestinian officials say the death toll since Israel began its offensive […]
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 […]
Two car bombings against members of an ethnic minority in northern Iraq and militant attacks on Iraqi soldiers and police officers killed at least 27 people on Friday, Iraqi officials said. The bombings struck in Tahrawa, a village inhabited by families from the Shabak ethnic group, killing seven people. The village is near Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. Police officials also said that 43 people were […]
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 […]
DOHA, Qatar — The five hardened Taliban militants were quickly whisked in a fleet of cars to the shoulder of a highway on the outskirts of the capital just as they arrived. There, out of the public eye and under the watchful gaze of Qatari security, they exchanged warm hugs with a welcome delegation and then once more were whisked off into hiding. If Qatar holds to […]
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 […]
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The fevered struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran for regional dominance has for years aggravated nearly every conflict across the Middle East as the two nations armed, funded and encouraged each other’s adversaries. So it has come as a surprise to many here that even with the region still in tumult, there have been signs that both powers are looking to temper their destructive […]
Police in Brazil’s biggest city Sao Paulo have used batons and fired tear gas to break the subway strikes by the protesting workers and commuters that have caused chaos in the country’s economic capital, according to reports. The second straight day of commuting chaos on Friday confronted Brazil less than a week before it hosts the opening match of the football World Cup. “Ana Rosa station, one of the […]
Lady Soames, then Mary Churchill, with her father Winston Photo: PA [embedded content] Churchillian connections for this week’s podcast. The obituary of Mary Soames shows her affinity with her father Winston Churchill and her uneasy relationship with her mother Clementine. Christy Campbell is here in the studio to talk about the brave efforts by Commander Ronald Borner to put into effect one of Churchill’s wheezes: fluvial mines […]
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso is to formally sign a controversial EU-Israel research programme with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The outgoing head of the European Union executive will hold talks with Netanyahu on Sunday before taking part in a signing ceremony the next day allowing Israel to become the only non-European country to benefit from the EU’s Horizon 2020 scientific research programme. After months of dispute, the […]
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 […]
An eclectic collection of classic jewellery to create everlasting memories Enjoy the time of togetherness, sharing and giving this Eid with some fabulous gift ideas from Liali jewellery that will put a smile on the face of your loved ones! From lavish Italian gold jewellery designed by Gabriella Rigmonti to classic budget products of the Regalo in Spain, Liali offers a deluge of styles designed to impress […]
The tropical inspired collaboration of Sarah’s Bag, The Odd Piece & Nasiba Hafiz An evening of glamour, style and summer whimsy awaited Dubai’s fashion and design crowd last night at Tropique C’est Chic with Sarah’s Bag teaming up with Nasiba Hafiz and The Odd Piece to present a special collection of clothes, handbags, accessories and statement pieces for the home. Sarah’s Bag, the luxury handcrafted social entrepreneurship […]
