News

  Brussels / AFP The EU unveiled ambitious plans on Wednesday to boost joint defence spending including on shared assets like drones and helicopters, as concerns grow that President-elect Donald Trump may downgrade the US security commitment. Trump shocked longtime NATO allies in Europe when he suggested on the campaign trail be would think twice about coming to their aid ...

  New York / AFP Workers from fast-food chains, airports and other service industries rallied in US cities as part of a nationwide day of disruption to demand union rights and a minimum wage of $15 an hour. In New York, a group of 500 that included airport and taxi workers joined a union-backed “Fight For 15” march in front ...

  Ottawa / AFP Canada approved two new pipelines including one to the Pacific coast that will allow producers to sell into new Asian markets, while rejecting a third project. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press conference his government has agreed to tripling the capacity of Kinder Morgan’s half-century-old Trans Mountain pipeline to move crude from the Alberta oil ...

Bloomberg London Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged to stop buying double-decker buses that run purely on diesel from 2018, as part of his drive to clean up the capital’s toxic air. In addition, all new single-deck buses will be zero-emission, Khan’s office said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday. The mayor also unveiled the world’s first double-deck hydrogen-fueled bus, manufactured by ...

  Bloomberg Personal spending increased at a more moderate pace in October after the biggest gain in five months, while faster income growth signaled demand will be sustained. Purchases rose 0.3 percent after a 0.7 percent September advance that was stronger than first estimated, Commerce Department figures showed on Wednesday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a ...

  DUBAI / WAM Dubai-based flydubai officially launched its Bangkok service, marking the start of its first double daily route outside of the GCC. The inaugural flight from Dubai International Terminal 2 landed at Bangkok International Airport on Tuesday, providing connecting routes for travel through Dubai. Commenting on the launch of the new route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO at flydubai, ...

  AJMAN / WAM HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, received on Tuesday Igor Mirovic, President of the Provincial Government of Vojvodina, Serbia, and explored prospects to establish joint trade, and economic and investment projects. Mirovic is leading a high-level delegation on a visit to the UAE. The Ajman Ruler called on ...

  ABU DHABI / WAM President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the release of 1,102 prisoners on the occasion of the UAE’s 45th National Day. The move comes as part of President Khalifa’s keenness to give pardoned inmates an opportunity to start a new life and ease the suffering of their families. Commenting on the occasion, ...

  Dubai / WAM The UAE’s national events are an annual occasion for all of us to teach our young generations to love the UAE and to be dedicated to their country and its prosperity, affirmed His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while he presided over a ...

  Abu Dhabi / WAM His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, made on Tuesday, an official visit to the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), where he was briefed on the organisation’s long term strategic objectives. During the visit, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed reaffirmed the UAE and Abu ...