August, 2019

• 24 August

  Qantas tests 20-hour non-stop flights

  Bloomberg Qantas Airways Ltd will run marathon ghost flights from New York and London to Sydney carrying just a few staff to see how the human body holds up before commercial services start. Qantas said it will simulate the world’s longest direct flights with Boeing Co Dreamliners as soon as October. The payload of 40 passengers and crew, most of ...

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• 24 August

  Cathay warns staff social media use may breach China rules

  

  Bloomberg Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, trying to contain the damage it has suffered from staff taking part in Hong Kong’s anti-Beijing protests, cautioned employees that misuse of social-media platforms could be a breach of rules set by China’s authorities. In a message to employees, Cathay said that posting, responding and sharing content on social media could go against the demands ...

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• 21 August

  Adnoc awards AED13.2bn in ‘smart procurement’ contracts

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) announced on Wednesday the award of multi-billion-dollar contracts for the procurement of casing and tubing as it drives value through its smart approach to procurement. The combined scope of the three contracts awarded is one of the world’s largest in this category, maximising value for Adnoc across its drilling ...

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• 21 August

  UAE participates in WTO dispute proceedings

  GENEVA / WAM The United Arab Emirates is participating in dispute adjudication proceedings through the World Trade Organisation Dispute (WTO) Settlement Body during meetings being convened from August 21 to 23, in the presence of various states interested in the matter. The UAE affirms that the action and measures in question were intended to safeguard national security as a result ...

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• 21 August

  Dewa keen to boost ties with Chinese firms

  DUBAI / WAM Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) received Li Xuhang, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai. Al Tayer congratulated Chinese Consul on the new post, wishing him success in his upcoming diplomatic missions. He emphasised the depth of UAE-China relations, as UAE is the second largest ...

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• 21 August

  Water pollution weighs on global economic growth: World Bank

  

  Bloomberg Poor water quality saps one-third of potential economic growth in the most heavily polluted areas, according to a new global analysis by the World Bank that underscores how crucial clean water is to productivity. “Deteriorating water quality is stalling economic growth, worsening health conditions, reducing food production, and exacerbating poverty in many countries,” World Bank Group President David Malpass ...

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• 21 August

  58% growth in travel bookings to Ireland from UAE: dnata

  

  Dubai / WAM Travel from the UAE to the island of Ireland has seen strong growth from January 01 until June 30, 2019, based on travel statistics released by dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest-standing travel agency, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Compared to the same period (H1) in 2018, UAE locals and residents have been visiting Ireland ...

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• 21 August

  Abu Dhabi unveils ‘community engagement program’

  

  ABU DHABi / WAM A new initiative to engage the Abu Dhabi community with solving social challenges has been launched today by the Authority of Social Contribution, Ma’an. Beginning from September, Ma’an’s Community Engagement Programme will provide individuals, government entities, companies and not-for-profit associations, with strategic direction on how people can contribute to social causes. Forming a key pillar of ...

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• 21 August

  ADIB UK provides AED120m funding to acquire Centrica HQ

  ABU DHABi / WAM Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in the UK (ADIB UK) has provided financing for the Bank of London and the Middle East (BLME) to acquire a AED120 million Grade A office building in Edinburgh, leased to Centrica as their corporate headquarters in Scotland until 2035. The award-winning building, which forms part of the Edinburgh Waterfront regeneration area, ...

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• 21 August

  Fujairah heavy residue stocks dip first time in three weeks

  FUJAIRAH / WAM Fujairah’s stockpiles of heavy distillates and residues declined for the first time in three weeks on signs of additional demand amid higher prices at competing ports, according to data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Heavy distillate and residue stocks fell 13 percent week on week to 9.333 million barrels as of August 19, the lowest since ...

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