TEXAS / WAM The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) in Sharjah has wrapped up four days of fruitful participation in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2023), which concluded in Houston, Texas, USA. The delegation, led by HFZA Director Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, has showcased the free zone’s unique investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector while fostering collaboration with ...

DUBAI / WAM More than 40,000 people — including 30,000 visitors — attended the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which concluded last week in Dubai. This not only represents a year-on-year increase of 29% in attendees compared to 2022, it also represents a 5% increase over 2019, establishing a new record for the show, demonstrating that the Middle ...

ABU DHABI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, on Monday received Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Fatwa Council and members of the council, at Qasr Al Watan. His Highness Sheikh Mansour was briefed about work and plans of the council that aim ...

SHARJAH / WAM HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, welcomed Dr Hayat Qatat Al-Qarmazi, the Minister of Cultural Affairs of Tunisia, to his palace on Monday. HH Sheikh Sultan emphasised the importance of cultural relations among different Arab countries, which contributes to the achievement of various educational and scientific projects, and ...

BLOOMBERG The Biden administration is preparing a $500 million weapons package for Taiwan, using a fast-track authority that it has relied on to speed arms to Ukraine. The package will involve sending existing stockpiles of US weapons or support equipment to Taiwan under what’s known as a Presidential Drawdown Authority. The equipment to be in the package wasn’t immediately known. ...

KERALA / WAM At least 21 people drowned after a boat capsized off the coastal town of Tanur in the Malappuram district of India’s southern state of Kerala, Reuters reported on Monday. The boat, which was carrying about 40 inbound passengers, overturned as it was overcrowded, said Abdul Nazar, Malappuram district’s junior superintendent of police. It was not immediately clear ...

BLOOMBERG The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) allies need to spell out the concrete steps for Ukraine to become a member of the military alliance and move beyond repeating the standing position that it’s welcome to join the bloc, according to Estonia’s top diplomat. “It’s not enough anymore just to repeat the already existing position that Ukraine is welcomed to ...

BLOOMBERG Germany is facing a shortfall of about €12 billion ($13.2 billion) in its special climate-protection fund, suggesting the government in Berlin has significantly underestimated the cost of greening Europe’s biggest economy. Commitments to climate—protection projects exceed earmarked resources through 2026, according to people familiar with the budget details, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. The estimated ...

BLOOMBERG Earth broke grim new records for melting glaciers, rising sea levels and ocean heat last year, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The WMO’s annual State of the Global Climate report, which tracks climate indicators and impacts, cited a record high for ocean heat content in 2022. Some 58% of the ocean surface experienced ...

ABU DHABI / WAM UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, on the death of the mother of Prince Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice ...