News

  Emirates Business GCC economies will have to make more productive use of their workforces in order to sustain economic growth, according to a new ICAEW report. At the same time, the accountancy and finance body warns that countries will need to create millions of jobs for new entrants to the labour market. The report Economic Insight: Middle East Q2 ...

  Manama / Tribune News Service Oil prices must reach $138 per barrel for Bahrain to be able to balance its budget, according to a senior official. The rate is higher than those required by other GCC nations, said Energy Minister Dr Abdulhusain Mirza. He was speaking at a symposium, The Decline in Oil Prices and their Impact on the ...

  AMMAN / Tribune news service Gaining favourable treatment in terms of customs duties and other fees is a key to increasing Jordan’s agricultural exports to the Russian market, a government official said. “Efforts are still under way to secure preferential treatment from Russia in terms of custom duties and taxes when exporting fruit and vegetables,” Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson ...

  Reuters Iran has deferred at least one of its fuel oil loadings for June to Asia, according to a trade source with direct knowledge of the matter. In a bid to recapture lost market share and bolster revenue, state-owned National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) quickly ramped up exports of fuel oil once U.S. imposed economic sanctions were lifted in ...

  Bloomberg Iran plans to invite international companies to bid for oilfield development rights in June, a government official said, as the Persian Gulf country seeks to revive its energy industry after years of crippling sanctions. The Oil Ministry will solicit bids in a tender round starting June 21 and running for a month, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported ...

  Paris / AFP The world risks getting caught in a low-growth trap, denting the future of generations to come, unless governments step up spending quickly, the OECD warned on Wednesday. Tepid worldwide recovery since the global economic crisis in 2008 “has precipitated a self-fulfilling low-growth trap” said the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s chief economist Catherine Mann said ...

  Berlin / AFP Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands would be the first of Britain’s EU partners to bear the brunt if voters back an exit from the European Union, the OECD said on Wednesday. Britain itself could be buffeted by financial market turbulence akin to that seen at the height of the eurozone crisis in 2011 and 2012, the ...

  Bloomberg Germany’s 10-year government bonds held on to their biggest gain in more than two weeks as the nation auctioned five-year notes at a record-low yield before the European Central Bank announces its latest policy decision. German sovereign debt has returned 1.1 percent in the past month while holders of Treasuries have been left with no gains, according to ...

  Bloomberg The Renault-Nissan alliance will begin hiring at least 300 tech experts this month, becoming the latest carmakers to try to lure workers away from Silicon Valley. Most recruits will be software engineers with experience in vehicle connectivity and mobility services, a category that includes car-sharing, the alliance said. They will join a team led by Ogi Redzic, 45, ...

  Geneva / AP Just like Hannibal in ancient times, Swiss engineers have conquered the Alps. More than 2,200 years after the commander from the ancient North African civilization of Carthage led his army of elephants and troops over Europe’s highest mountain chain, Swiss leaders have completed another gargantuan task — and on time: Burrowing the world’s longest railway tunnel ...