Bloomberg Saudi Aramco shares advance for a third session — though the market valuation remained below $2 trillion — with investors focusing on energy company’s inclusion in major global equity indexes this week. The stock climbed 1.6% in Riyadh, extending gains since it started trading on Wednesday to 17%. The main Saudi index also advanced, along with most peers in ...

DUBAI / WAM Dubai Customs organised a meeting to discuss future of trade and latest trends in the supply chain, following UAE leadership’s ‘2020: Towards the Next 50’ announcement. Next year will witness the biggest national strategy to prepare for coming 50 years on the federal and local level as the country approaches its Golden Jubilee in 2021. In the ...

NEW DELHI / WAM The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has announced plans for developing economic relations with the Arabian Gulf countries. The state government will organise a ‘Mini-Investors’ Meet’ next year in the state capital Bhopal, which will be exclusively focused on enhancing investment ties with the Gulf. This was announced in a report on the outcome of the ...

Dubai / WAM Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), announced pilot operation of the world’s first unmanned cooling plant at Jumeirah Village Circle in Dubai, with a total cooling capacity of 50,000 Refrigeration Tonnes (RT). Empower explained that the highest international standards have been maintained in the construction and building design of the new plant, as it took into account ...

Dubai / WAM Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, will preside over a UAE delegation on an official visit to China that aims to diversify and strengthen environmental cooperation between the two countries. Scheduled to run from December 18-21, the agenda will feature multiple high-level meetings with Chinese officials to explore best practices and ...

Dubai / WAM Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Dubai Municipality to undertake beautification projects across Dubai to enrich the city’s urban landscape. The collaboration supports the shared strategy of both organisations to enhance the aesthetic ambience of the city and transform key neighbourhoods into ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), has contributed $10 million (AED36.7 million) towards the development of the Samandini Dam in Burkina Faso. Supporting the country’s strategic objectives, the funded project is part of the Samandini Basin Development Programme that aims to promote sustainable growth in rural areas and improve living conditions through boosting the agricultural ...

Bloomberg Boris Johnson’s sweeping election victory is a very English revolution. The prime minister trounced his biggest opponent by luring traditional Labour Party voting heartlands in northern England to his Conservatives for the first time in generations, in some cases ever. Voters clearly rejected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s throwback socialist agenda, but they just as clearly rallied to Johnson’s pledge ...

Bloomberg Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he’ll step down only after resolving problems inherited by the previous administration, raising questions about a handover in power that’s expected to take place before mid-2020. The 94-year-old leader didn’t give a definitive time frame on when he’ll step down or whom his top choice would be. He has previously said he’ll hand ...

Bloomberg Thailand’s highest-profile opposition party warned of more demonstrations after drawing thousands of people to an anti-government rally that also protested the prospect of its looming dissolution. The crowd assembled on an elevated walkway in a Bangkok shopping district three days after the Election Commission said it will petition a court to break up Future Forward for breaching financing rules, ...