News

Bloomberg Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte continued his attacks on a local television network he’s accused in the past of bias, and urged owners of ABS-CBN Corp to sell before its franchise expires in March. In a televised speech delivered in the local language at Davao City on Monday, Duterte suggested the media firm’s franchise renewal is uncertain. He had earlier ...

Bloomberg Protests against a new citizenship law in India risk making investors wary of doing business in Asia’s third-largest economy. At least 25 people have been killed in nationwide demonstrations against the new rules enacted into law earlier this month. The law bars undocumented Muslims from three neighboring nations seeking Indian citizenship, while allowing people of other faiths to do ...

Bloomberg HNA Group Co’s chairman predicted 2020 will be “the decisive year to win the war” against the Chinese conglomerate’s long-running liquidity challenges. HNA endured another year of difficulties with liquidity but it’s the group’s “political duty” to overcome the challenge, Chairman Chen Feng said on the company’s WeChat page. Still, the message didn’t specify how HNA would overcome its ...

Bloomberg The financial gearing of Asia Pacific’s largest companies has risen for a second year following a period of deleveraging, but market participants don’t see cause for alarm. The median total debt-to-total equity for non-financial companies in the MSCI Asia Pacific Index reached about 44% in the first nine months of 2019. That is slightly higher than the 41% seen ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE Cabinet has approved the ‘People of Determination Protection from Abuse Policy’ to empower and protect persons with disabilities by allowing them to participate effectively within a safe community environment that offers them enhanced opportunities and guarantees their right to a dignified life. The policy aims to protect ‘the determined’ from abuse, empowering them, their ...

DUBAI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved a three-year budget cycle for the Government of Dubai, for the 2020-2022 period. The three-year budget cycle meets the aspirations of Dubai’s future, and confirms its determination to continue raising people’s happiness and stimulating entrepreneurship. The ...

DUBAI / WAM Enoc Group has been awarded the Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability for third year in a row. Among 228 global applicants, the group was recognised for its commitment to improving sustainability standards. Since 2014, Enoc Group reduced its emission intensity by about 24% and water intensity by about 17% in its manufacturing, retail facilities. The group also ...

Dubai / WAM The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), announced that it is launching a Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform to help firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), implement appropriate safeguards to mitigate against cyber risks. The Platform is a result of ongoing cooperation and collaboration with the Dubai Electronic Security Centre, the National Computer Emergency Response Team and the ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The UAE jumped ten spots on the list of most competitive countries in world during four years, acquiring 5th place in 2019 compared to the 15th spot in 2016, according to the annual World Competitiveness Ranking 2019 published by the IMD Business School. The UAE has proven its standing as one of the world’s most competitive ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), highlighted the importance for UAE citizens wishing to travel abroad to review country specific travel advice and hunting laws on the ministry website or via its smart application, ‘UAEMOFAIC’. In a statement, the ministry said that it aims to raise UAE citizen’s awareness of the latest travel ...