Dubai / WAM The UAE jumped 23 ranks in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2019 Gender Inequality Index (GII), ranking first in the Arab world and 26th globally. In a series of tweets, HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, highlighted the announcement, adding, “I am proud of this accomplishment ...
Read More »Uncategorized
Abu Dhabi launches digital ‘violation reporting platform’
ABU DHABI / WAM The Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA), on Monday announced the launch of a digital ‘Violation Reporting Platform’ that will enable the reporting of suspicious financial and administrative violations across government entities. According to a statement by the Authority, the newly launched digital platform will enhance Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness and further establish investor confidence in its business ...
Read More »â€˜UAE’s model of tolerance is a unique, influential soft power’
The UAE is continuing to promote its inspiring model of tolerance, coexistence and openness to others, after leading globally through its unprecedented initiative launched this year that made it the “Capital of Tolerance.” The UAE has proven the importance of the key role of its soft power in reinforcing human fraternity principles and encouraging moderate speech discourse, through supporting all ...
Read More »China car market heads for second annual sales decline
Bloomberg Car sales in China continued to decline in November, extending a historic slump and all but ensuring a second straight annual drop for the world’s biggest auto market. Sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans and multipurpose vehicles fell 4.2% from a year earlier to 1.97 million units, the China Passenger Car Association (PCA) said, citing preliminary figures. The ...
Read More »S’pore food security at climate change risk
Bloomberg Singapore, home to some of the planet’s most affluent people, shouldn’t have to worry about going hungry — except when you factor in the threat of climate change. The city state ranks top of the Global Food Security Index, a gauge of more than 100 countries developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit and supported by Corteva Agriscience. But when ...
Read More »Fighting pollution in India could increase greenhouse gases
Bloomberg India’s fight against deadly air pollution may come with an unintended consequence: increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Government-mandated pollution control devices for coal-fired power plants, which reduce deadly sulfur-dioxide pollution, could also boost carbon dioxide emissions at individual plants, according to a report by the US Environmental Protection Agency. That may impede India’s ability to meet international commitments to ...
Read More »Europe is edging towards 5G restrictions after US lobbying
Bloomberg US officials flooded Europe last week, and by the time they had departed, their efforts to persuade their allies to cut back in using Huawei Technologies Co equipment appeared to finally be gaining traction. Europe has been caught between two major world powers, China and the US, over the question of whether to include Huawei in the roll-out of ...
Read More »Berlin builders hit streets over rent freeze
Bloomberg Berlin’s effort to protect tenants from steep rent increases has antagonised other participants in the property industry. Three convoys of construction lorries, along with landlord representatives, converged on Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to protest against a plan to freeze rents in the city for five years. Around 1,500 people registered to take part in the event involving an estimated 240 ...
Read More »EU fuels Indonesia trade tensions with 5-year biodiesel tariffs
Bloomberg The European Union imposed five-year tariffs on biodiesel from Indonesia to counter alleged subsidies to producers in the country, a move that could prompt the Indonesian government to retaliate. The EU duties on Indonesian exporters of this type of biofuel, which is made from vegetable oils and animal fats for use in diesel engines, range from 8% to 18%, ...
Read More »Modi’s new India citizenship law sparks panic, protests
Bloomberg India’s parliament is set to approve legislation preventing Muslim migrants from neighboring countries from receiving citizenship — the next step in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hardline Hindu nationalist program and one that’s seen to go against the nation’s secular constitution. The controversial citizenship bill has sparked protests and fear around India, with lawyers working overtime to help millions at ...
Read More »