News

Kuala Lumpur / DPA 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD) said its subsidiary Powertek Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd has fully settled its 3 billion ringgit (US$769.8 million) loan ahead of its maturity date. In a statement, the state investment arm said this was made possible with the help of the 1MDB rationalisation plan initiated by the government. “1MDB is pleased to announce ...

New Delhi / Bloomberg Gail India Ltd. bought the second shipment of liquefied natural gas from Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana in a deal that makes it the first Asian importer of US shale gas. The nation’s biggest supplier will receive the cargo, bought on spot basis, at the Dabhol import terminal on the country’s west coast ...

New Delhi / Bloomberg The monsoon is set to bring cheers to Indian farmers this year after the first back-to-back shortfall in rainfall in three decades ravaged crops. Showers during the four-month rainy season starting June will probably be normal as the El Nino is seen returning to neutral conditions by the middle of the year, according to Skymet Weather ...

Sharjah / WAM The most effective ways of enhancing business between Sharjah and Portugal were high on the agenda at a key meeting organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with AICEP Portugal Global Trade and Investment Agency. More than 50 business stakeholders attended the premium roundtable event, which was held at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and ...

Sharjah / Emirates Business Thousands of children and families flocked to Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Montazah and Heart of Sharjah, during the weekend, to enjoy a plenty of exciting activities and entertainment shows held as part of the 10th edition of the Sharjah Food Festival at the emirate’s four premier tourist destinations. Organised by the Sharjah Investment and ...

Dubai / Emirates Business Visa, a global payments technology company, and Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company on Saturday signed a multi-year partnership agreement. As part of the partnership, Visa cardholders across the Middle East and North Africa will have access to a series of value-added cardholder benefits at Jumeirah properties which will be rolled out throughout the course ...

Dubai / Emirates Business Global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC has been confirmed as the official logistics partner for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) international cross country rally for the second year running. The repeat partnership will see GAC support rally participants with a portfolio of through logistics services from their port of origin to the UAE ...

Greece / AFP Greece on Saturday demanded “explanations” from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after Wikileaks said the lender sought a crisis “event” to push the indebted nation into concluding talks over its reforms. IMF officials, in an internal discussion, allegedly voiced exasperation with Greece on its slow pace of reform, complaining Athens only moved decisively when faced with the ...

BERLIN / Reuters Germany’s spending on social security could get out of hand as the population ages, a budget specialist in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives warned, contrasting current optimism over plans for no new net borrowing until 2020. Buoyed by record-low unemployment, rising wages and steady economic growth, the German government agreed last month to its biggest increase in the ...

WARSAW / Reuters Central European manufacturing continued to grow in March as a jump in Polish factory activity managed to offset slower growth from Germany, the region’s main trade partner. The former communist countries of the European Union’s eastern wing rely on demand and investment from richer western Europe, which over the past two decades has lifted their living standards. ...