Bloomberg The Pentagon will request 78 F-35 jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, six fewer than previously planned, in the budget expected to be sent to Congress next week, according to defense officials. The cutback from the 84 fighters projected a year ago for fiscal 2020 is a setback for Lockheed, the No. 1 defense contractor, even as interest in ...

Bloomberg South African Airways has laid fraud charges against a former pilot after finding out that he operated international flights with the wrong type of license. SAA is seeking to reclaim “millions of rand” paid to the aviator on the assumption that he held an Airline Transport Pilot License, it said in a statement. Following an incident involving a flight ...

DUBAI / Emirates Business Airline passengers are using automated technology for passport checks at double the rate recorded in 2017 and are more satisfied when doing so too. This is according to the SITA 2019 Passenger IT Insights, co-sponsored by Air Transport World, which shows that in 2018, 44% of passengers sailed through automated passport control, a jump from 21% ...

Bloomberg Nothing like a fresh pedicure to show off a new pair of sandals. At least, that’s what DSW Inc. is banking on as it tries to accelerate shoe sales by adding nail services inside more of its stores. The retailer said it’s adding nail salons to five shoe stores this year in Washington, Austin, Texas; and Dublin, Ohio. DSW ...

Bloomberg US equity futures advanced alongside global stocks after the US and China were said to close in on a trade deal that may end American tariffs in return for Chinese concessions. The dollar edged higher with Treasuries, while commodities were mixed. Gains in media and construction shares led the Stoxx Europe 600 Index to the highest level in five ...

Bloomberg News that the US and China are near a trade deal that could lift most or all American tariffs did little to bring out the animal spirits from Asia stock traders. But when China said “substantial progress” was made, that appeared to do the trick. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index spiked up around 11:24 a.m. in Hong Kong, with ...

ABU DHABI / WAM A total of AED18.7 billion of dividends have been proposed by as many as 18 listed UAE national banks for 2018, 12.2 percent up from AED16.66 billion in 2017. The growth in dividend distribution reflects robust solvency position of UAE banking sector, reckoned among Mena’s most resilient with estimated AED2.9 trillion of assets by 2018-end. The ...

Bloomberg Uber Technologies Inc. is in advanced discussions to buy Dubai-based Careem Networks FZ, a deal that would expand the ride-hailing giant’s operations in the Middle East, according to people familiar with the matter. The companies may announce a cash-and-sh-ares transaction that values Careem at about $3 billion in the coming weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified ...

DUBAI / Emirates Business Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced ahead of Middle East Electricity that smart cities are driving the GCC’s smart grid market to $33 billion by 2042. GCC nationwide digital transformation and smart cities are weaving energy efficiency throughout every project — across renewable energy generation, more efficient power distribution ...

Bloomberg Kuwait is planning to create a $10 billion fund with China to invest in the two countries, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Gulf state is discussing the creation of a Kuwait-China Silk Road Fund that would invest in Kuwaiti projects related to the Silk City and islands development, according to the people. It could also ...