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  Bloomberg A private university in Thailand has begun accepting rice in payment for tuition fees as the nation struggles under a grain glut that’s hurting farm incomes. Students enrolled at Rangsit University in Bangkok’s northern suburbs can pay all or part of next semester’s costs with rice, said Worachat Churdchomjan, a dean who helped set up the program. The ...

  Bloomberg Issuance of CLOs (Collateralized Loan Obligation) in Europe in 2017 may exceed this year’s record for post- crisis sales with a well-stocked pipeline of new deals, no let-up in investor demand and supportive credit conditions. Themes seen in recent months look set to carry over into next year, with the issuer and investor base diversifying, more CLO refinancings ...

  London / AFP Britain’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter, revised official data showed, indicating no impact yet from the nation’s looming exit from the European Union. Gross domestic product expanded by 0.6 percent in the three months to the end of September, up from the previous estimate of 0.5 percent, the Office for National Statistics ...

  ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE leadership is looking forward to a national media industry that lives up to the standards of achievements and rises to the challenges while keeping pace with modern technology to strengthen its mission, reflect the image of the country’s progress, and project and support the UAE’s regional and international causes, said His Highness Sheikh ...

  Dubai / WAM President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday received a written invitation from King Abdullah II of Jordan to attend the Arab League Summit, to be hosted by Jordan in late March 2017. The written invitation was delivered to Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid ...

  Abu Dhabi / WAM His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, on Monday visited the Wahat Al Karama (Oasis of Dignity) memorial, built to honour Emirati heroes who had died for their country. Accompanied by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister ...

  Dubai / WAM Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) and Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) have invited key stakeholders of Dubai’s building industry to jointly discuss thoughts and views on future potential policies aiming at doubling the rate of energy efficiency in buildings by 2030. The joint workshop was held to discuss the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA), a public-private partnership ...

  Dubai / Emirates Business In response to the declaration of 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’ by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company, has allocated AED 25 million to support charitable and humanitarian work in the upcoming year. The move reinforces the ...

  Istanbul / AFP Turkey on Monday said it wanted international air support for its army’s assault on the extremist-held Syrian town of Al Bab where the military is facing tough resistance from IS extremists. Turkish forces have for weeks joined pro-Ankara Syrian rebels in fierce fighting for Al Bab, taking increasing casualties as they approach closer to the centre. Turkey ...

  Sochi / AFP Russian rescuers found on Monday the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea, as officials said they do not suspect terrorism as the reason for the crash that killed 92 people on board. The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading ...