Bloomberg Two former US Marines imprisoned in Russia are likely to seek transfers to the US to serve their sentences, an early test of whether the Kremlin is ready to respond to President Joe Biden’s policy of re-engagement. Paul Whelan, who was sentenced to 16 years for spying last year, is expected to submit the request this month, according to ...
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Infrastructure bill clears major Senate hurdle, passage in sight
Bloomberg The $550 billion infrastructure bill cleared a procedural hurdle in the US Senate as members began working through proposed amendments in one last drive to finalise the White House-backed public works plan. The 67-27 vote to end debate on the bipartisan compromise measure puts the legislation on track to pass as soon as this weekend after weeks of negotiations ...
Read More »PG&E ordered to explain role in 2021 California wildfires
Bloomberg PG&E Corp was ordered by a judge to identify each of the California wildfires its equipment started this year, and to explain in particular what role the utility played in igniting the Fly fire, which has merged with the much larger Dixie blaze. US District Judge William Alsup, who oversees PG&E’s criminal probation, issued the order and asked for ...
Read More »US city has just six ICU beds left with 2.4 million population
Bloomberg With ICU beds down to a single digit, Austin sounded the alarm, using its emergency alert system to let residents in the Texas capital city know that the local state of the pandemic is “dire.†The Austin area — with a population of almost 2.4 million people — has just six intensive-care unit beds left, state health data show. ...
Read More »Maersk’s green shipping plan runs up against ‘scarce oil’
Bloomberg AP Moller Maersk A/S’s efforts to become carbon-neutral face an unusual hurdle: there isn’t enough used cooking oil to make the biofuel that powers the vessels. “The biofuel is sourced from used cooking oil, but the problem is that the world doesn’t eat enough french fries,†said Chief Executive Officer Soren Skou. “We can’t keep scaling it. If our ...
Read More »Dubai Customs’ transactions grow 53% to 11m in H1 2020
DUBAI / WAM Dubai showed quick recovery from the repercussions of Covid-19 in different economic sectors thanks to the resilient strategies and plans the emirate followed in the face of the pandemic, and the dynamic and wise initiatives directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The trade sector continued ...
Read More »Abu Dhabi Ports improves gas network in ICAD
ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi Ports on Saturday announced that it has embarked on a wide-ranging network service upgrade across ZonesCorp, part of the Industrial Cities & Free Zone Cluster of Abu Dhabi Ports, to ensure non-stop gas supply to its customers. The system modernisation will take place over the next several months as part of a continuous comprehensive ...
Read More »AD Police issues 27,076 ‘violations’ in H1 2021
ABU DHABI / WAM The Traffic and Patrols Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP) has recorded 27,076 distracted driving violations during the first half of 2021. According to statistics and analytical studies, distracted driving is among the most dangerous offenses, as it may lead to serious injuries and even cost lives. The Directorate stressed the importance of maintaining focus ...
Read More »Dubai hotel sector gearing up to welcome Expo visitors
DUBAI / WAM Dubai’s hotel sector is gearing up for Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s largest and most impactful event ever to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, from October 01, 2021, to March 31, 2022, while recovery from the Covid-19 is gaining momentum globally and the UAE is getting ready to celebrate its ...
Read More »Brazil political crisis grows as Bolsonaro, top court bicker
Bloomberg President Jair Bolsonaro’s relentless attack on Brazil’s voting system soured his relationship with the Supreme Court, leaving the country on the brink of an institutional crisis. Top Justice Luiz Fux canceled plans for a meeting with Bolsonaro and the heads of congress that was intended to defuse rising tensions between them. The move came a day after the court ...
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