May, 2017

• 16 May

  How to boost productivity and make it last longer

  

  Economics pundits like me spend a good deal of time worrying about productivity. When discussing the issue, we often begin by noting that in the long run, productivity increases are the only way that living standards can improve. We recount the history of technological breakthroughs like the internal-combustion engine and the invention of electricity that supercharged productivity. And we wring ...

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• 16 May

  Until Palestine issue is resolved, idea of Arab rail link will wither

  

  An Israeli Cabinet minister is proposing that they all share a railway link that could cut overland travel distances between the Mediterranean and key Arab destinations by a half or two-thirds. The Regional Landbridge & Hub Initiative has been developed by Yisrael Katz, Israel’s minister of transportation and intelligence and a potential rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for leadership ...

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• 16 May

  Donald Trump just did something good on trade

  The mini-deal on U.S. trade with China announced by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross last week deserves a cautious welcome. It’s narrow in scope, and the reasoning behind it, as related by Ross, is questionable at best, but it gets the main thing right: It expands rather than contracts the opportunities for mutually beneficial commerce. One can only hope that the ...

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• 16 May

  Assad must be punished for Syria war crimes

  How many more atrocities committed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on its own people will go unpunished? What will it take for Syria’s allies to say ‘enough is enough’ and international community to act decisively against the brutality of Assad regime? Syrian president has carried out worst atrocities — widespread kidnappings, torture, barrel-bombings and chemical weapons attacks — unleashed against ...

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• 16 May

  Trump claims ‘absolute right’ to disclose terrorism secrets

  

  Bloomberg President Donald Trump claimed an “absolute right” to share information about terrorism with Russian officials, but some lawmakers in both parties expressed alarm over reports he had disclosed highly classified material in an Oval Office meeting last week and demanded a fuller accounting. “As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I ...

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• 16 May

  Israeli minister: Time has come to assassinate Assad

  Bloomberg President Bashar al-Assad should be eliminated to stop the atrocities taking place in Syria, according to an Israeli minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant, a retired major general who led the Israel Defense Forces’s southern command, which includes the Gaza Strip, pointed to U.S. allegations that the Assad regime built a crematorium at a ...

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• 16 May

  Macron draws up cabinet with help from new premier

  Bloomberg President Emmanuel Macron was spending Tuesday selecting his cabinet with new Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. Just back from meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Macron is huddling with Philippe throughout the day with the list of ministers is due to be released at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Paris. Macron this month became the first French president to ...

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• 16 May

  Dubai launches initiative to certify e-commerce sites

  Dubai / WAM Dubai Economy launched a new initiative to certify e-commerce websites, as part of its efforts to protect consumers, resolve their complaints and ensure best practices in online transactions. The “Digital Protection” service is aimed at e-commerce companies offering their services in mainland Dubai, as well as the free zones in the emirate. Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO ...

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• 16 May

  UAE provided AED502 million to Yemeni health sector

  

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The UAE has provided the Yemeni health sector, during the period 2015 to 2017, with financial assistance amounting to AED502 million to support its medical and health services in emergency cases, combat contagious diseases and provide basic healthcare, as well as to train heath sector employees. This is within the framework of the UAE’s desire to ...

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• 16 May

  Chef Middle East opens AED75mn food distribution centre at DIP

  

  Dubai / Emirates Business Chef Middle East, a leading regional supplier of the finest quality foods to the hotel, dining and airline industries, inaugurated its new AED 75 million world-class distribution centre at Dubai Investments Park (DIP). Omar Al Mesmar, General Manager of DIP, attended the grand opening and cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the massive 10,000 square ...

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