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ABU DHABI / WAM The United Arab Emirates has affirmed its commitment to achieving a political solution in Libya and called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation emphasised the UAE’s support for a political solution to end the ongoing Libyan crisis in line with the outcomes ...

Bloomberg Despite marching orders from China’s top leader Xi Jinping to maximize oil and gas production, the energy sector is bending to the reality of the coronavirus pandemic-fuelled market collapse. The nation’s three biggest state producers will slash their spending plans this year by a combined $19 billion, with PetroChina Co.’s 32% chop leading the way, the fattest among global ...

Bloomberg The euro-area economy plunged into a record contraction, an outcome that will only add more urgency to controversial demands for joint government fiscal support. Output in the 19-country region shrank 3.8%, reflecting shutdowns to contain the coronavirus that have pushed businesses close to collapse, sent unemployment surging and forced governments to unleash billions of euros in emergency stimulus. Italy, ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The United Arab Emirates on Thursday sent an aid plane containing seven metric tons of medical supplies to Bangladesh to bolster the country’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. The aid will assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals as they work to combat the virus. Commenting on the aid delivery, Saed Mohammed Al Muhairi, UAE Ambassador ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Shareholders of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (Taqa) have voted at the Company’s Annual General Assembly to approve the transfer of the majority of Abu Dhabi Power Corporation’s (ADPower) water and electricity generation, transmission and distribution assets to Taqa, which is owned by ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies. This transaction creates one ...

HADRAMAUT / WAM The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has begun its distribution of Ramadan Mir across various districts of the Hadramaut Governorate, targeting underprivileged families, as part of the UAE’s efforts to support the people of Yemen. The ERC responded via its annual Ramadan Mir campaign, which will see 1,000 meals distributed across Hadramaut daily throughout the Holy Month. Hamid ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Private-sector employers must commit to ensuring employee wages are safeguarded and paid on time via the Wages Protection System, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). In a statement, the UAE ministry noted that employers must adhere to Ministerial Decree No. 739 of 2016 concerning the protection of wages, as well as employment contracts ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Ministry of Education launched the “Sanadcom” initiative for children of the medical, administrative, and nursing staff working in the country, and who are the first line of defence against Covid-19, to promote their academic progress and meet all their technical and psychological requirements, as their parents are busy fighting the pandemic. This initiative, in cooperation ...

DUBAI / WAM The Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to enhance its remote learning initiative and ensure continuity in education, the development of skills and social empowerment of people with disabilities. The MoU was signed between Abdullah Al Humaidan, General-Secretary at ZHO, and Sayed Hashish, General Manager ...

Bloomberg The French and Spanish economies plunged into record contractions and German unemployment climbed more than expected amid virus shutdowns that are pushing Europe into its deepest recession of the post-war era. France shrank 5.8%, the most since 1949, with Spain suffering a 5.2% drop in GDP. The figures highlight the dramatic effect of government-ordered shutdowns as just two weeks ...