Dubai / Emirates Business The rise of the digital economy has catapulted the GCC into a position of significant market opportunity that serves as an emerging market advantage for the development of a flourishing fintech ecosystem. With the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the way, the region has some of the world’s highest rates of mobile and internet penetration, …

  WASHINGTON / AP The United States and Russia traded conflicting assertions on Wednesday about who launched a chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed 72 people, as world leaders grasped for a response to the latest atrocity in Syria’s intractable civil war. The Trump administration stood by its charge that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces were responsible. Not so, …

  LAHORE / AP A Taliban suicide bomber struck a vehicle carrying census workers in eastern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing two data collectors and four soldiers who were escorting them, officials said. The attack took place on the outskirts of Lahore, said Malik Ahmad Khan, the provincial government spokesman. A local police official, Mohammad Afzal, said that 15 other people …

  MOSCOW / AP Russia voiced hope on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s planned visit next week will help improve relations between the former Cold War foes. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tillerson’s talks next on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will focus on the fight against terrorism, various regional conflicts including Syria and Ukraine, …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM A national poll on nuclear energy has shown that 83 percent of UAE residents are in favour of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. The research shows some of the highest favourability rates for nuclear energy in the world and is now at 83 percent, an increase of 13 percent since the last poll conducted in …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business A spectacular fireworks display brought the 10-day Mother of the Nation Festival to a dazzling close having welcomed 197,316 visitors to the capital’s Corniche Beach for more than 100 live performances, intellectual discussions and an extensive array of engaging activities. Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the Festival’s second …

  Dubai /  WAM Dubai-based carrier flydubai and the German aircraft seat manufacturer Recaro Aircraft Seating will continue their long-standing partnership, the two companies announced on Wednesday at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. The carrier will equip its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2017, with Recaro Aircraft Seating’s global …

  Ajman / WAM Human Appeal International (HAI) spent AED111 million in 2016, as part of the charity organisation’s “Orphan’s Relief” project, to provide assistance and care for orphans in and outside of the UAE. Through the Orphan’s Relief project, HAI was able to provide aid to 115,000 orphans in the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Bosnia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Somalia, Yemen …

  Dubai / WAM His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was briefed on the implementation of the project to construct Al Wasl Plaza, the central hub of the Expo 2020 site. Accompanying HH Sheikh Mohammed at the briefing were Crown Prince of Dubai HH Sheikh Hamdan bin …

  Dubai / WAM Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received the Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) certificate from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the successful offset of carbon emission during the 18th edition of Water, Energy, Environment Technology Exhibition (WETEX 2016). The efforts are in line with the directives of the wise leadership to reduce carbon …