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There’s been endless speculation in recent weeks about whether the US, and the whole world for that matter, are about to sink into recession. Underpinning much of the angst is an unprecedented $29 trillion corporate bond binge that has left many companies more indebted than ever.Whether this debt overhang proves to be a catalyst for recession or not, one thing ...

RITIKA SHARMA / Emirates Business In a bid to woo more investors, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), the flagship free zone of Dubai and trade and logistics hub for the wider Middle East region, is all set for a system overhaul. Making visa procurement an easy task is part of this refurbishing plan and Jafza is looking forward to achieve ...

Isis Almeida / bloomberg The European Union is poised to miss its sugar export quotas this season as a reduced harvest limits overseas sales, according to independent soft commodities trader Group Sopex. The EU’s 28-member nations will probably ship less than 1 million metric tons in the season that started in October, John Stansfield, a Sopex analyst, said in an ...

Myanmar / AFP In a modest dormitory in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, novice MP Tin Thit recites a poem he has penned called “No Retreat”, steeling himself to enter Myanmar’s parliament carrying the dreams of a nation left traumatised by army rule. A poet, editor, activist — and now newly elected MP — he is among hundreds of political newcomers poised ...

LONDON / AFP British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk were meeting in London to try to hammer out a deal aimed at keeping the UK in the EU, after Cameron said the existing proposal is “not good enough.” The working dinner comes with Tusk expected to publish draft proposals early this week for how to ...

BRUSSELS / AP In the last quarter century, at least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed for doing nothing more than trying to inform the world on war, revolution, crime and corruption. And killers continue to act with impunity, the International Federation of Journalists announced in a new report. The annual total stood at 40 in the federation’s ...

Paris / AFP A white police officer plans to sue the estate of a black teenager he shot dead because he was traumatized by the fact that he accidentally killed the teen’s neighbour in the incident, his lawyer said. “The damage is my client feels horrible that Bettie Davis is dead because of the actions he was forced to take,” ...

Paris / AFP France wants to end its military operation known as Sangaris in the Central African Republic (CAR) this year, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday. “The aim is to bring Operation Sangaris to a halt. I hope this is done during 2016, with small units remaining on CAR territory as was the case beforehand,” he told ...

Cairo / AFP Bad weather including heavy fog caused two major traffic accidents in Egypt on Sunday that left at least 22 people dead, officials said. The deadlier accident saw 16 people killed and 21 wounded in multiple car crashes near Beni Sueif on the highway linking Cairo to Upper Egypt, police said. Two dozen vehicles were involved in the ...

Abu Dhabi / EMIRATES BUSINESS The UAE Cabinet retreat on post-oil phase concluded on Sunday. Federal and local government officials took part in the retreat and discussed ideas and initiatives that will contribute in diversifying the UAE’s economy and ensuring its sustainability. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and ...