Bloomberg Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that efforts to widen divisions with Taiwan would be “punished by history” in a nationalistic speech to mark the start of his second term. In an address to China’s almost 3,000-member national parliament, Xi said China had the capabilities to stop any attempt to formalise the democratically ruled island’s independence. The remarks came just ...

BEIRUT / Reuters President Donald Trump used the annual presidential statement marking the Persian holiday of Nowruz to criticize Iran’s government and military leaders with sharp-tongued language rarely before seen in a celebratory presidential message. “The history of Nowruz is rooted in Iran, where for millennia a proud nation has overcome great challenges by the strength of its culture and ...

Bloomberg Samuel Okunola shares the frustration of many Nigerians with the man he voted for three years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari. The 52-year-old tailor no longer feels he can support him in elections next year, but he doesn’t see an alternative. “I can’t vote for Buhari in 2019,” Okunola said in an interview at his shop in the upscale Victoria ...

DUBAI / WAM Dubai Investments has announced plans to lead a consortium of investors to launch Arkan Bank, a wholesale Islamic financial institution with an initial paid-up capital of $100 million. The authorised share capital of Arkan Bank will be $500 million. Arkan Bank is applying to the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), for approval for a prudential ‘Category 5’ ...

Sharjah/ Emirates Business The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) and the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), launched a ‘single-window’ service exclusively for female entrepreneurs to accelerate business processing, including applications, permits, visas and licences. SBWC is one of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment’s (NAMA) entities. The NAMA-SEDD initiative is in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed ...

Dubai / Emirates Business Meraas announced the winners of its first annual brokers awards at a ceremony held at the Yacht Club at Bulgari Resort & Residences Dubai on Jumeira Bay. The Meraas Brokers Awards were created to recognise the impact leading real estate brokers have had on the industry in Dubai, and the ceremony coincided with an exclusive sales ...

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business Eagle Hills Abu Dhabi, the private real estate investment and development company, on Tuesday unveiled its new state-of-the-art sales centre located on the 12th floor of Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. The interactive facility features a huge touch-enabled screen designed to serve more than one customer at a time. In addition to providing useful information on ...

Sharjah / Emirates Business Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) signed a partnership agreement with Diamond Developers, a leading Dubai-based company specialised in developing sustainable environmental projects, to deliver a large mixed-used project in Sharjah. The implementation of the green project aligns with Shurooq’s vision to strengthen strategic partnerships with the private sector, giving a strong boost to the drive ...

DUBAI / Emirates Business Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) highlighted Dubai’s growing popularity as a global cruise destination viable for pre-cruise and post-cruise stopovers and an apt homeport in the region at the Seatrade Cruise Global in Florida, USA, a leading event for the cruise industry. Dubai Tourism exhibited under the Cruise Arabia banner, bringing together ...

Bloomberg Saudi Arabia’s exports of diesel and gasoline soared to a record in January, underscoring a big advantage the world’s largest oil exporter has over other producers who’re more dependent on shipments of lower-value crude. While the kingdom kept crude output below an OPEC-agreed cap, its shipments of diesel, gasoline and other fuels surged by 27 percent to a record ...