Mark Gilbert The U.K. government has approved the country’s first hydraulic fracturing wells in the north of England, overruling the objections of the local council in Lancashire. It’s the correct decision given the nation’s growing energy needs; but rising opposition to fracking shows the nascent industry in the U.K. needs to do a better job of convincing the public …

  DUBAI / AFP Arab Fashion Week opened on Thursday with hopes of establishing Dubai as a top destination for the “ready couture” genre and as a major fashion capital. It is the first time that a fashion week has been dedicated to the form, described by organisers as a blend of haute couture and ready-to-wear or pret-a-porter. “In Milan, …

  Sharjah / Emirates Business Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) — an annual event organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) — is a shining lodestone for Arab and global culture, successfully bringing together millions of book titles and tens of thousands of visitors, exhibitors and publishers under its umbrella. This year, celebrating its 35th anniversary, SIBF continues to expand its …