Copenhagen / WAM A partnership of leading international organizations, including the United Nations, announced the launch of a first-ever global standard to measure food loss and waste while at the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF) 2016 Summit currently underway in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (FLW Standard) is a set of global definitions ...

  AMMAN / WAM The Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) participated in the 8th AFAQ Economic Conference, held recently under the title “Modern Economic Issues” in Amman, Jordan. Mohammed bin Khamis Al Mukhaini, Assistant Secretary-General for Industrial Information and Studies at GOIC, said, “It was an important opportunity to discuss challenges that various economic sectors face and to exchange ...

  Wellington / Bloomberg Vodafone Group Plc’s New Zealand business and the country’s largest pay-television provider, Sky Network Television Ltd., agreed to a NZ$3.44 billion ($2.4 billion) merger as they grapple with increasing competition. The global mobile-phone operator will own 51 percent of the combined entity, the companies said in a joint statement Thursday. Sky Network is issuing new stock ...

  Paris / Bloomberg Airbus Group SE is close to selling off its remaining holding in Dassault Aviation SA as the European aircraft maker disposes of assets to focus on its core businesses, people familiar with the matter said. Airbus is working with advisers, and a sale could come as soon as this week, the people said, asking not to ...

  Dubai / AFP Bahrain’s struggling carrier Gulf Air said on Thursday it reduced losses by 62 percent last year as a result of the company’s restructuring. Losses fell from 62.7 million dinars ($166.29 million) in 2014 to 24.1 million dinars ($63.92 million) last year, Gulf Air said in a statement. “I am delighted with these results. 2015 delivered the ...

  New York / Bloomberg Iberia suspended its route to Africa’s biggest economy on May 12, followed by United, which informed employees that it would end flights from the US to Nigeria at the end of June because of a lack of demand and trouble collecting payments. British Airways and Emirates have said they are facing difficulties obtaining outstanding air ...

  WASHINGTON / AFP A decision to ease the bottlenecks at London’s airports faces the threat of further delays in the aftermath of Britain’s vote over membership in the European Union on June 23, Heathrow Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye said. “If we leave the EU, the main focus of government will be figuring out what it all means, renegotiating ...

  ALKESH SHARMA / Emirates Business Economic diversification, through reducing dependence on oil revenues, is the only path to success in the UAE’s corporate ecosystem. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, which are considered the backbone of any economy, could play a crucial role in facilitating this diversification. Buoyed by the great government and bank support, SMEs and start-ups ...

  ALKESH SHARMA / Emirates Business At a time when most of the leading economies worldwide are struggling with the woes of financial meltdown, Islamic economies are among the fastest-developing markets in the world. From halal products and industry to Islamic banking and finance, this economy encompasses a number of sectors that are receiving a worldwide recognition and generating a ...

  RITIKA SHARMA / Emirates Business Known as one of the strongest countries in bespoke car sales, UAE with its wealthy population is driving the growth of the global ‘customised cars’ industry. The recent win of Abu Dhabi Motors that made it top Rolls-Royce Bespoke Dealer in the world for 7th year in a row, is testimony to the fact ...