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  Abuja / AFP Nigeria’s economy contracted in the third quarter as rebels continued to bomb oil pipelines in the restive south and businesses struggled to access foreign exchange, official data showed Monday. “The nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by -2.24 percent year-on-year in real terms,” the country’s National Bureau of Statistics said in a report. This meant that ...

  Bloomberg China’s President Xi Jinping made a state visit on Monday to Peru, one of its partners in its drive to boost world trade in the face of protectionist stirrings. A day after taking part in the APEC Asia-Pacific trade summit, Xi made a formal visit to the host nation, a major mineral and food exporter. He was expected ...

  Bloomberg South Africa’s proposals to stabilize the labor market by introducing a national minimum wage and curtailing strike action have received mixed reviews, just days before ratings companies are scheduled to decide whether to downgrade the nation’s credit rating. The country’s biggest labor union has dismissed the recommended minimum wage of 3,500 rand ($246) a month announced by Deputy ...

  DUBAI / Reuters Iran has sent some ‘surplus’ heavy water to Oman, an Iranian nuclear spokesman was quoted as saying, after a UN atomic watchdog said Tehran was over a soft limit set under its nuclear deal with major powers. “In view of the progress of talks with several foreign firms and countries to purchase heavy water, some quantities ...

  CAIRO / Emirates Business Egypt remains the star performer among its peers in the region rising 5 percent over last week and breaking the 11,000 level for the first time since 2008. The rise is backed by positive investor sentiment regarding the IMF support of much needed funding. Stocks continue to rise after the currency declined by more than ...

Riyadh / Reuters Embattled Saudi construction firm Mohammad Al Mojil Group (MMG) said it has written directly to Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman explaining that it may not be able to continue operating. It was unclear if the privately owned company was seeking financial or other assistance from the government. In a short statement via the stock exchange on ...

  Riyadh / Emirates Business Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) announced the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Olaya located in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The contemporary new Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Olaya rises proudly along the popular Olaya district in Riyadh and provides a new level of functionality and comfort to travelers within the Kingdom. ...

  Dubai / Emirates Business InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the opening of InterContinental Doha Residences under a management agreement with Gulf Hotels Company WLL. Located on Doha’s longest natural private beach, each spacious residence offers tranquil living in distinctive surroundings. With a design that merges Arabian and European sophistication, InterContinental Doha ...

  DUBAI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the world’s first government accelerators on Sunday. The first group of government accelerators will focus on five ministries: the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Ministry of Climate Change and ...

  ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) set a new record by handling 5 million containers, representing a milestone for Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT). The record was achieved while serving the CMA CGM, a vessel belonging to ADT’s long-time customer CMA CGM Pegasus. The new throughput milestone follows terminal operator ADT’s success in the first half of ...