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  Sharjah / WAM Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) leads not only to wealth in economic terms, but also builds a nation’s culture, art and literature, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has said. Sheikh Sultan made the remark during his opening address at the second edition of the Sharjah Foreign Direct ...

  Dubai / WAM Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum commended the critical role of the State Security Apparatus in enhancing security and safety of the community and preserving its gains. A safe and secure environment is one of the key pillars of development, Sheikh Mohammed stressed on Wednesday, while ...

  Rome / AFP Italy has slashed its growth forecasts for this year and next, nine weeks before a referendum shaping up as make-or-break vote on the centre-left government’s record that could send shockwaves across Europe. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on updated budget plans for 2017, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was now making a “prudent” prediction of ...

  Athens / AFP The Greek parliament has adopted fresh austerity measures sought by its international creditors, including expediting privatisation of utility companies. The reforms were passed by 152 of the 293 parliamentary deputies present, deputy speaker Yorgos Varemenos announced after the debate. The vote opens the way for 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in loans, which have been blocked ...

  Sofia / AFP Bulgaria on Wednesday switched its candidate to be the next head of the United Nations, shaking up the race to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on December 31. Sofia is now throwing its weight behind European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva, dumping UNESCO chief Irina Bokova after she came a lowly sixth in the ...

  Agencies The entire state of South Australia lost electricity after severe winds and storms lashed the region, according to Adelaide-based SA Power Networks. The distributor, which services about 850,000 homes and businesses, said that Australia’s fourth-largest state by area is currently without power and there is “no upstream supply from the transmission network.” The state — about one and ...

  Sembalun / AFP Hundreds of tourists have fled a volcanic eruption at a popular Indonesian hiking destination, an official said on Wednesday, expressing fears some may have stayed behind to document the natural wonder. Around 1,000 tourists, including about 600 foreigners, were believed to be in the area when Mount Barujari sent columns of ash and smoke shooting high ...

  Aleppo / AFP An air strike and artillery fire hit the two largest hospitals in rebel-held parts of Syria’s Aleppo on Wednesday, in what rights groups said was a deliberate strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure. President Bashar Al Assad’s forces and his ally Moscow have carried out a barrage of air strikes on opposition-controlled eastern Aleppo since Syria’s regime ...

  Ajman / Emirates Business A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote tourism growth in the emirate and enhance business opportunities was signed between the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) and Gulf Chinese Trading Corporation. HE Faisal Al Nuaimi, General Manager of ATDD and Feng Luo, General Manager of Gulf Chinese Trading Corporation, operator of Ajman China Mall signed the ...

  Ajman / Emirates Business Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, will be celebrating a decade of success with the 10th edition of the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre. The upcoming festival, which will run for 10 days from the October 22 to 31, is expected to attract a significant ...