News

Dubai / WAM The World Government Summit Organisation, (WGSO), launched on YouTube a virtual reality video of the ‘Mars 2117’ project, previously featured at the 5th edition of the World Government Summit in February 2017. The launch is part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to accumulate and promote cutting-edge technological advances and introduce them to governments. The video offers a ...

Sharjah / WAM The second edition of the International Photography Festival, Xposure, the region’s largest photography event, which witnessed the participation of some of the biggest names in international photography and leading international brands, concluded at Expo Centre Sharjah. The four-day festival, themed ‘Captivating Stories’, was organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB). Xposure 2017 lit up new perspectives ...

Sharjah / WAM Sharjah Municipality announced the paid parking zones all over Sharjah will be free of charge for four days on the occasion of the Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH), birthday, Commemoration Day, and the UAE 46th National Day, the Sharjah 24 news website reported. The free parking will start on November 30, with paid services to be reactivated as of ...

Dubai / Emirates Business The winners of the inaugural Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards have been announced by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism). Comprising 17 different categories, the Awards recognise and celebrate the important work of Dubai’s hotels and tourism companies in advancing sustainability within the emirate’s tourism industry. Held at The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City, ...

DHAHRAN / Reuters State oil giant Saudi Aramco and petrochemical producer Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday to build a $20 billion complex converting crude oil to chemicals in the kingdom. The project, which the partners said would be the largest crude-to-chemicals facility in the world, is a sign that the Saudi government plans ...

Bloomberg Sasol Ltd. said it will steer clear of big new investments as the world’s largest maker of fuel from coal reviews existing assets and focusses on completing its $11.13 billion US chemicals plant. Sasol won’t invest in further new gas-to-liquids or crude-oil refining capacity, according to a statement on its website ahead of an investor day being held in ...

BEIJING / Reuters China has issued crude oil import quotas for 2017 of 1.5 million tonnes to three independent refiners, three sources familiar with the situation said, a sign Beijing is easing its policy towards these companies sometimes known as teapots. Shandong Qingyishan Petrochemical Technology Co was granted a quota of 800,000 tonnes, Zibo Xintai Petrochemical Co was given 500,000 ...

Bloomberg Forecasts for a warm start to December are raising the specter of a third straight mild winter, sending US natural gas futures sliding the most since February. A midday update to the government’s Global Forecast System weather model maintained a “much too warm” pattern through December 6, despite a couple of cool shots across the northern tier of the ...

Bloomberg Indians grappling with the risk of stroke, heart disease and lung cancer from pollution have to contend with an unlikely adversary: The taxman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rollout of the country’s biggest tax overhaul in decades is encouraging the use of petroleum coke, a fuel that spews more emissions than others. That’s because it’s being taxed at a rate ...

Bloomberg State-run Steel Authority of India Ltd. is heading for a turnaround this year as the government orders belt-tightening and asset disposals at the loss-making 63-year-old mill. “This year we’re expecting some cash profit to come into SAIL,” Aruna Sharma, secretary at the steel ministry, said in an interview in New Delhi. The ministry has directed the company to better ...