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Bloomberg A group of private equity firms and pension funds agreed to buy Inmarsat Plc for $3.4 billion in a bet on the UK-based satellite operator’s growing inflight broadband business. Inmarsat shares rose more than 8 percent. Talks began in late January as the London-based company faces growing competition from traditional rivals such as ViaSat Inc. and new challengers including ...

Bloomberg Confidence among German companies unexpectedly improved in March, providing a glimmer of hope for the European economy. Ifo’s closely-watched index rose to 99.6, beating forecasts for a reading of 98.5, and a gauge of executives’ expectations also rose. The improvement helps to dispel some of the gloom after a survey showed German manufacturing in its deepest slump in more ...

Bloomberg AT&T Inc. resolved its contract dispute with Viacom Inc., staving off a blackout that would have kept its millions of pay-TV customers from seeing cable channels such as Nickelodeon and MTV. The deal reached “brings AT&T customers more choice and improved value for Viacom content,” according to a joint statement that provided few other details. The companies’ contract, which ...

Bloomberg Russia urged US President Donald Trump to seize the opportunity to reset relations after Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report found no evidence of collusion between his campaign and the Kremlin. “There’s a chance to renew much in our relations, but the question is whether Trump will take the risk,” Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the international relations committee in the ...

DUBAI / WAM In its eighth year, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), Congress will host experts and stakeholders from the building and construction industry to discuss the role of a circular economy in promoting sustainable development. Building on last year’s landmark Congress on Net Zero Buildings and Cities, the discussion will focus on how a shift to a circular ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM A new platform to support high tech startups has launched in Abu Dhabi. The AED520 million ($141.5 million) ‘Hub71’ launched on Sunday by His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Chairman of the Executive Committee. His Highness also announced a new AED535 million fund, to ...

DUBAI / WAM The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), hosted senior executives from Standard Chartered Bank to discuss how financial institutions and regulators can work together to help curb illegal wildlife trade and disrupt the flow of illegal funds arising from this predicate crime. David Fein, Group General Counsel at Standard Chartered and Vice-Chair of the Financial Taskforce of the ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The new Qasr Al Watan Library, located inside Qasr Al Watan Palace in the Presidential Palace compound, is now open to the public, marking the addition of a new major attraction to Abu Dhabi’s cultural and tourism assets. Inaugurated on March 11, Qasr Al Watan Library is distinguished by its exceptional location in the centre of ...

Bloomberg China’s top officials pledged to lower tariffs and expedite debt sales in 2019 as they seek to manage an economic slowdown while tackling the trade standoff with the US. The country will continue to cut import taxes and create a first-rate environment for foreign businesses as it opens up the economy, Vice Premier Han Zheng said at the China ...

Bloomberg Tech giants such as Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google will face tougher penalties if they flout privacy laws, under a plan Australia’s prime minister said is necessary to safeguard personal information. Australia’s government will introduce measures to increase fines for breaches, strengthen disclosure policies and embolden its privacy regulator to crack down on data misuse, according to a ...