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 …

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 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. …

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 …

ABU DHABI / WAM His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council (EHRC), emphasised the pressing need for global action to preserve the planet in light of the challenges posed by climate change and environmental damage. HH Sheikh Abdullah noted that the world is …

DUBAI / WAM Dubai Electricity and Water Authority PJSC (Dewa), the emirate of Dubai’s exclusive electricity and water services provider, which is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), on Monday reported its first quarter 2023 consolidated financial results, recording quarterly revenue of AED5.44 billion and net profit of AED763 million. For the last twelve months, Dewa’s consolidated revenue was …

ABU DHABI / WAM The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) provides extended Emirati families with their fair share of pension and social security coverage, thanks to a flexible and secure insurance scheme that offers life-long financial sustainability for eligible UAE nationals. The ‘Get Ready — Proactive Financial Planning’ campaign showcases the generous disbursements released by the GPSSA to …