Doha / Emirates Business In the lead-up to the soft opening of Mall of Qatar, it has been revealed that the multi-billion QAR project—designed to serve as the region’s ultimate shopping, entertainment and dining destination—will generate about 8,000 new jobs nationwide. This impressive figure indicates that Mall of Qatar is set to play a pivotal role in the country’s ...

  Bloomberg Nigeria’s possible sale of some of its oil and gas assets to raise money and boost the contracting economy in Africa’s most populous country could reduce the government’s influence over its biggest industry. President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic advisers are working on a plan “to generate immediate large injection of funds into the economy through asset sales, advance payment ...

  Bloomberg Libya, struggling to revive its energy industry after five years of armed conflict, restarted production at an eastern oil field and was poised to export crude from the port of Zueitina for the first time since November. Germany’s Wintershall AG began pumping at Concession 96 in the As Sarah field on Sept. 16 and is producing 35,000 barrels ...

Kuwait City / AFP A Kuwaiti court on Wednesday said a government decision to increase petrol prices was unlawful nearly one month after it took effect in the oil-rich Gulf country. The court said the decision “breached the law” because of procedural flaws, according to a copy of the verdict obtained by AFP. It said the price hike should have ...

  Rome / AFP Italy has slashed its growth forecasts for this year and next, nine weeks before a referendum shaping up as make-or-break vote on the centre-left government’s record that could send shockwaves across Europe. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on updated budget plans for 2017, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was now making a “prudent” prediction of ...

  Athens / AFP The Greek parliament has adopted fresh austerity measures sought by its international creditors, including expediting privatisation of utility companies. The reforms were passed by 152 of the 293 parliamentary deputies present, deputy speaker Yorgos Varemenos announced after the debate. The vote opens the way for 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in loans, which have been blocked ...

  Paris / AFP The French government defended its 2017 budget on Wednesday, seven months ahead of the presidential election, after a top watchdog said it doubted it could hit its fiscal targets. France, which has repeatedly broken the European Union’s fiscal rules, is targeting a deficit of 2.7 percent of GDP for 2017, the lowest in a decade and ...

  Bloomberg The Nordic members of the European Union have vowed to work closer together to make up for the potential loss of a key ally, the U.K. Meeting Wednesday in the Finnish island of Aaland, the leaders of Sweden, Denmark and Finland agreed to explore ways of cooperating on some of the crucial battles they will face in Brussels. ...

  AFP A major US health insurance company has said it will help buy Apple smartwatches for customers as part of a move to integrate the gadgets into wellness management programs. Aetna announced that, in the coming open enrollment period, it will make Apple Watch buys an option for large employers and individual customers, becoming the first major health care ...

  Sofia / AFP Bulgaria on Wednesday switched its candidate to be the next head of the United Nations, shaking up the race to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on December 31. Sofia is now throwing its weight behind European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva, dumping UNESCO chief Irina Bokova after she came a lowly sixth in the ...