Bloomberg South Korea is famous as a high-tech powerhouse, from Samsung’s smartphones, the world’s fastest internet connection speed and world-beating innovation. And while presidential hopefuls are laying out plans to develop new technology to drive the economy over the next five years, here is a reality check: the advantage of Korean companies over their Chinese competitors is closing fast. …

  Dubai / Emirates Business The UAE Purchasing Managers’ Indexâ„¢ (PMIâ„¢) — a composite indicator designed to give an accurate overview of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy — picked up to a 19-month high of 56.2 in March, from 56.0 in February. Growth of the UAE non-oil private sector gained further momentum in March, continuing the trend …

  DUBAI / WAM Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has concluded its successful participation at the 5th Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition (DIGAE), which was held from April 2-4, under the theme: ‘National Governments .. Global Achievements’. DEWA’s stand attracted many visitors who commended its innovative projects and initiatives, and actively took part in discussions, lectures, and workshops that …

  RAS AL-KHAIMAH / WAM The real estate sector in Ras al-Khaimah has expanded considerably, increasing from AED3.401 billion in 2011 to AED4.947 billion in 2015, a total percentage of growth of 45 percent, according to a study by the RAK Chamber of Commerce. The annual growth of the real estate sector amounted to 15 percent per annum over the …

  DUBAI / Emirates Business Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced its partnership with Samsung to provide early access to Samsung Pay, for the bank’s customers. Samsung Pay is a secure, fast and convenient mobile payment service that can be used to make contactless purchases with select Samsung devices* almost everywhere a card is accepted. The launch …

  BEIRUT / AP A suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria’s rebel-held northern Idlib province killed dozens of people on Tuesday, opposition activists said, describing the attack as among the worst in the country’s six-year civil war. Hours later, a small field hospital in the region was struck and destroyed, according to a civil defense worker in the …

  GAUHATI / AP India said on Tuesday that China should not interfere in its internal affairs, as the Dalai Lama began a weeklong visit to India’s remote northeast that Beijing has protested. The Tibetan spiritual leader was greeted by cheering supporters as he arrived in Arunachal Pradesh. China claims the partly ethnically Tibetan Himalayan state as its own territory, …

  Bloomberg Investigators named a man who blew up a St. Petersburg subway car, killing 14 people in the worst terrorist attack in a major Russian city in years, and said he also planted a bomb found at a second metro station. The remains of Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, who marked his 22nd birthday on Saturday, were recovered from the scene of …

  Tokyo / WAM Strategic, value-added partnerships are the key to ADNOC’s growth plans, as the company seeks to ambitiously expand its business by opening new markets and offering new, diversified and high-value products, according to Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Group CEO. Speaking at Gastech, the world’s leading gas …

  Tokyo / WAM Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and CEO of the ADNOC Group, on the sidelines of Gastech Exhibition & Conference, which opened on Tuesday in Tokyo. Dr Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership to the Japanese Prime Minister. Shinzo Abe reciprocated his greetings …