BLOOMBERG Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc sent paying customers to the edge of space for the first time, a milestone for the Richard Branson-founded company almost two decades in the making. The VSS Unity craft reached space at about 9:30 am local time in New Mexico on June 30, Virgin Galactic revealed in a livestream of the event on its website. …

DUBAI / GULF TIME Maison Luxe, the iconic luxury multi-brand retailer of watches and jewelry located in Dubai Mall, hosted an exclusive event on June 21st for the grand launch of four captivating watches from the Riviera collection by Baume & Mercier. The occasion showcased the exceptional craftsmanship and enduring elegance the Baume & Mercier is renowned for. With a …

BLOOMBERG US President Joe Biden will leave for Europe in a week to firm up ties with key Nato allies, including the UK, in the wake of the last month’s abortive uprising in Russia. Biden plans to hold talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before heading to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the 74th Nato summit, and ending in Finland with …

BLOOMBERG Bosnia-Herzegovina’s international overseer revoked two laws adopted by ethnic Serbs as unconstitutional, the latest standoff threatening stability in the country’s fragile postwar balance. Christian Schmidt, the Western-backed envoy with powers to change legislation that harms Bosnia’s complex power-sharing set up after ethnic warfare in the 1990s, struck down laws adopted by lawmakers in the Republika Srpska entity that denied …

BLOOMBERG The invasion of Ukraine has had a “corrosive effect” on Russian society and President Vladimir Putin’s regime, creating an “opportunity” for the US, said William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The top US spy made rare public comments, delivering a lecture at the Ditchley Foundation in Chipping Norton, northwest of London. “Disaffection with the war will …

BLOOMBERG A fifth night of unrest across France was more subdued as authorities contained the fallout from the killing of a teenager that has reignited debate about racism and inequality. The riots and looting, which have drawn comparisons with America’s reaction to the murder of George Floyd in 2020, have become a moment of reckoning for the country which has …

SHARJAH / WAM The highly anticipated Sharjah Summer Promotions 2023, organised annually by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), marks the start of a 65-day extravaganza filled with promotions, mega discounts, entertainment events, and valuable prizes across the emirate. Considered one of the key events in Sharjah’s annual retail calendar, this year’s edition holds special significance as it …

ABU DHABI / WAM Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Al Shaiba Saeed Al Hameli Group of EST. (Al Firas General Cont & Maint Est), on the rehabilitation and employment of people of determination. ZHO allocates part of the mechanics workshop in its Department of Vocational and Agricultural Rehabilitation for …

ABU DHABI / WAM The General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation has announced the opening of nominations for the 2024 “Date Palm International Photography” competition, which is held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees. Professional photographers, and …

ABU DHABI / WAM Despite the geopolitical ramifications that the global economy is currently facing, the UAE economy is poised for stronger growth, recovery, and prosperity in the second half of this year, supported by a track record of economic successes that have fructified into the UAE’s designation as an innovation-driven economy. The domestic economy’s resilience, which has passed through …