BLOOMBERG Indonesia’s equity benchmark closed at a record high on Tuesday on optimism that the nation’s central bank is done with rate hikes and incumbent President Joko Widodo’s policies would be preserved by his successor in an upcoming election. The Jakarta Composite Index advanced 0.7% to surpass its previous all-time high of 7,318.016 hit in September 2022. Top gainers included ...

BLOOMBERG Chinese shares dragged down Asian equities on the first trading day of the year following weaker-than-expected factory data and a speech from President Xi Jinping that flagged the headwinds facing the economy. Crude oil rose. Hong Kong’s benchmark share gauge slid as much as 1.7%, while its peers in the mainland and Taiwan also dropped. The losses drove a ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM The UAE is gearing up for a busy 2024 with a packed calendar of international conferences and events. Throughout January, the emirate will play host to a diverse array of gatherings, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for business tourism and conferences. This surge in activity underscores the UAE’s competitiveness and global appeal in the world ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM As part of its commitment to providing exceptional services and promoting cultural exchange, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) announced the “Sura” Evening Cultural Tours within the mosque premises. These exclusive tours allow visitors to explore the mosque outside regular hours, from 22:00 to 09:00. This initiative reflects the Centre’s strategic plan to elevate the visitor ...

UMM AL QAIWAIN/ WAM Under th patronage of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, attended the launch of the 18th Umm Al Qaiwain Festival for Purebred Arabian Camel Racing in Al Labsa Square. Sheikh Rashid ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has kicked off 2024 by introducing two new services. Daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India commenced on New Year’s Day. These non-stop services to each destination bring the total number of Indian gateways served by Etihad ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM The Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba area celebrated New Year 2024 with exceptional shows and features, breaking 4 Guinness World Records. This included a spectacular fireworks display and a 60-minute drone show, along with international performances and programmes, creating a joyful and cultural atmosphere for visitors. The Festival attracted a large international crowd to ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM Under the directives of its wise leadership, the United Arab Emirates enters 2024 with resolute determination to extend the principles of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond by continuing to strengthen partnerships, enhance multilateral cooperation and foster meaningful dialogue. Foreign Policy Principles Following an active year of collaboration with the international community and organisations, ...

BLOOMBERG Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, grappling with flight cancellations over the holiday period that have frustrated passengers, acknowledged that pilots reaching or at their 12-month limit on flying hours had contributed to the problem. While there were “elevated sickness rates on certain days,” the airline’s director of flight operations said in a memo that many had hit or come close ...

ABU DHABI/ WAM President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received messages of congratulations from Their Highnesses and Majesties, Presidents, Kings and Princes of world countries, on the occasion of the New Year 2024. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed ...