ABU DHABI // The UAE has banned all non-heat-treated poultry products from parts of the United States and Malaysia due to concerns about the spread of bird flu. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment decided to take action following an alert from the World Organisation for Animal Health. The import ban affects all types of live domestic, wild and ornamental birds, as well as chicks, eggs […]
SEOUL North Korea on Thursday said it had reached agreement with Malaysia for the return of the body of a citizen killed in Kuala Lumpur in February and identified by South Korean and U.S. officials as the half-brother of the North’s leader. The body is to be returned to family in North Korea, the official KCNA news agency said, adding that both countries would lift reciprocal bans […]
Elevate, one of the biggest subprime lenders in the US, is reviving plans to go public, seeking to cash in on a big lift in sentiment since the election victory of Donald Trump. Financial stocks have rallied hard since November 8, with big banks such as Bank of America rising as much as 50 per cent on hopes of fatter lending margins, lower taxes and lighter regulation. […]
HANOI: Vietnam on Thursday criticised a U.S. State Department award to detained blogger and environmental activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, often referred to by her pen name, “Mother Mushroom”. Quynh, detained in October for anti-state propaganda, was one of 13 women worldwide to receive an International Women of Courage Award. The awards were presented by First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday. Foreign ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh […]
JOHANNESBURG South Africa’s main opposition leader said on Thursday he plans to bring a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma in parliament after an ally of the ruling ANC confirmed Zuma’s intention to fire Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. “At a time when 9 million South Africans are without work and our fragile economy requires leadership and clear policy direction, President Zuma continues to play “Russian […]
The best reporters learn how the world works, whether it’s the world of law enforcement, the laboratory, the zoning commission, the city council or the corporate boardroom. One of the best ways to provide excellent coverage is to focus your efforts. Here’s a checklist to help you think critically about how your spend your time: Enterprise Story Ideas: What are some investigative opportunities? What are some feature […]
TOKYO Japan is considering relaxing restrictions on visas for tourists from China, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday, hoping to extend a tourism boom and lend support to consumer spending. Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012, his government has gradually eased visa requirements for Asian countries, pushing to a record high the number of inbound visitors and sparking […]
By Eveline Danubrata and Agustinus Beo Da Costa | JAKARTA JAKARTA Indonesia’s government has proposed issuing a decree to govern the domestic tobacco industry, a move that could sharply raise cigarette output in the world’s fourth-most populous nation, after a bill outlining the changes was opposed by the health ministry and anti-smoking groups. The latest proposal was mooted at a meeting 10 days ago between the trade […]
By Lesley Wroughton | ANKARA ANKARA U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Turkey on Thursday for talks with a NATO ally crucial to the fight against Islamic State but increasingly at odds with Washington and its European partners. Tillerson will meet President Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State, including the planned offensive against its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, where Turkey has […]
Saudi Aramco has formally appointed JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley and HSBC as international financial advisers for its initial public offering, expected to be the world’s largest equity sale, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The trio join Moelis & Co and Evercore, which have been appointed independent financial advisers, one source said. The company has also appointed Saudi Arabia’s NCB Capital and Samba Capital […]
For a US$2,000-a-night (Dh7,345) trip to the land of happiness, I’m a little surprised by the “assumption of risk and limitation of liability” statement my tour operator, Amanresorts, insists I sign before proceeding with my Bhutan itinerary. “I understand that I am undertaking travel to a remote geographical area in an undeveloped country where, among other things, a sense of urgency, attention to detail, standards of quality, […]
The State Department on Wednesday notified Congress of its intent to proceed with the sale without the conditions, according to Micah Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Congress now has two review periods to examine the sale and raise any objections. Continue reading the main story Mr. Tillerson will attend his first meeting of NATO on Friday in Brussels, where he may run into […]
TOKYO Japan’s ruling party on Thursday urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government to consider acquiring the capability to hit enemy bases and to beef up missile defence, as North Korea defies U.N. sanctions with its nuclear and missile development. “North Korea’s provocations have reached a level where our country can by no means overlook them … We cannot afford to lose any time to bolster our ballistic […]
THE DEAD SEA, Jordan: European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini on Wednesday said the EU and the Arab region are “going through years of suffering. Peace and reconciliation can only come through a truly collective and cooperative approach.”Addressing Arab leaders at the Arab Summit, Mogherini said no regional or global power alone holds the key to stabilizing the Middle East or North Africa.“Peace… requires everyone’s constructive contribution,” […]
By Byron Kaye and Jeremy Wagstaff | SYDNEY/SINGAPORE SYDNEY/SINGAPORE The big data company credited with helping Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency has registered a company in Australia and plans to meet the country’s ruling conservative Liberal Party next week, according to documents and a government official. Cambridge Analytica, which has also said its “psychographic” methods helped the successful campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, […]
29 March 2017 Doha – Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is excited to announce two of the keynote speakers for this year’s Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare who will offer delegates a very different perspective on healthcare provision. One of the keynote speakers is a life-long patient, Ms. Tiffany Christensen, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was six months old. At 12 […]
PHNOM PENH Cambodia’s exiled former opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia on Thursday to an additional 20 months in prison for defamation, on top of a previous five-year term. Opponents of Prime Minister Hun Sen accuse him of using defamation cases and other tactics to marginalise rivals ahead of local elections in June and a general election next year. The case against Sam Rainsy had […]
Filthy rich and already boast enough glass slippers to win a dozen princes? Italian shoemaker Antonio Vietri has the thing for you: 24-carat gold shoes. Vietri, from Turin in northern Italy, hopes to attract shoppers from wealthy Gulf countries with his blue or black suede moccasins with stitched gold-plated uppers. “These are the first shoes in the world in 24-carat gold,” he told AFP. “The particularity of […]
In 2016, more than 4 billion records were leaked worldwide, exceeding the combined total from the two previous years, according to a report from IBM Security. In its IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2017, Big Blue explained the leaked documents comprised the usual credit cards, passwords, and personal health information, but also noted a shift in cybercriminal strategies, finding a number of significant breaches were related to […]
ABU DHABI // The amount of certain drugs seized in the UAE has almost tripled, while the number of drug-related criminals arrests has more than doubled in a year, according to the head of anti-narcotics at the Ministry of Interior. Lt Col Saeed Al Suwaidi said the production of Captagon and crystal methamphetamine in the GCC had gone through the roof in recent years because of political […]
MEXICO CITY A Mexican judicial panel suspended a judge on Wednesday who dismissed charges against a man accused of sexually abusing a minor on grounds that the assault had not satisfied him sexually. The case has spurred outrage among Mexicans, who viewed it as another instance of impunity for wealthy men. The victim, who was 17 at the time of the alleged crime in January 2015, testified […]
Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for March 30, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Ellen Fortini rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE. Want to see your event listed here? Email us with the details and contact information at [email protected] newslide Abu Dhabi Family fun Yas […]
“We recognized the nature of the fight was going to change and that we had to ensure that authorities were down to the right level and that we empowered the on-scene commander,” General Votel said. He was speaking specifically about discussions that he said began in November about how the fights in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State were reaching critical phases in Mosul and Raqqa. […]
The sleep revolution is not going to stop at the U.S. border. Now a few months out from its November debut, Arianna Huffington’s wellness startup, Thrive Global, is hiring additional journalists and preparing to expand to Italy, India and Eastern Europe. The expansions, joint ventures with Gruppo Espresso, The Times of India and The Antenna Group, respectively, fit into a strategy to “chronicle the culture shift around […]
