World

Poland’s Prime Minister has canceled a trip to Israel in the wake of reported remarks made by Israel’s prime minister suggesting Polish complicity during the Holocaust, an aide in his office told Polish media on Sunday. A government spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will not attend …

Saudi Arabia signed a preliminary agreement on Sunday with France’s Naval Group to build warships in the kingdom, as part of its efforts to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the kingdom’s state defense company, made the announcement at the IDEX military exhibition in Abu Dhabi, a …

U.S. President Donald Trump’s choice for ambassador to the United Nations, Heather Nauert, has withdrawn from consideration for the job for family reasons, the State Department said on Saturday. Nauert was State Department spokeswoman when Trump chose her for the U.N. position after working as a host for the conservative-leaning …

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that Russia was showing unprecedented interest in the Middle East, adding that Syrian regime head Bashar Assad was still in power because of Russian intervention. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hunt noted that Assad would remain in office for the short-term and more, …

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, this evening received Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, and his accompanying delegation, and discussed sustaining the longstanding bonds between the UAE and India, in general, and Dubai and Kerala in particular. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed …

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on Saturday, inaugurated the new facility of Ginox Swiss, a world leader in the manufacturing of professional kitchens. The opening ceremony was attended by Jérôme Hofer, CEO of Ginox Swiss, senior officials and media. …

Iran warned neighboring Pakistan on Saturday it would “pay a heavy price” for allegedly harboring militants who killed 27 of its elite Revolutionary Guards in a suicide bombing near the border earlier this week, state television reported. Revolutionary Guards chief Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari also accused Tehran’s regional rival …

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday he told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Europe and the United States need to stand together against Iran and he reiterated Washington’s opposition to the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline. Pence told reporters he “talked about all of the issues” including the pipeline …

Poland summoned Israel’s ambassador on Friday and threatened to scupper a summit in Jerusalem after reported comments in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in the Nazi Holocaust. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the prime minister, who was in Warsaw for …

The tremendous contributions of Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), have helped transform the “buyer, seller” relationship between India and the UAE in the field of energy into a “truly strategic” partnership, according to the Indian Ambassador …

DP World has recently launched a new water distribution centre increasing water supplies in Somaliland’s Berbera by 60 percent. The US$1 million project started in 2018 and includes four water wells, two shallow pools, two water troughs, a concrete reservoir tank and seven kilometre pipeline connected to the main water …

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met yesterday in Warsaw with the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States, in Warsaw to discuss the situation in Yemen. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to a comprehensive political solution …

The UAE is participating in the 42nd Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Agency of the United Nations in Rome, which opened today at the headquarters of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, in Rome. The UAE is being represented in the two-day …

Polish President Andrzej Duda has received H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in the presence of Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. President Duda also received the heads of delegation of countries participating in the US-led conference …

Russia told Turkey on Thursday it had no right to create a “safe zone” inside Syria unless it sought and received the consent of President Bashar al-Assad, signaling tensions as a three-way summit on the Syrian conflict began. President Vladimir Putin, one of Assad’s closest allies, was hosting the summit …

Turkey is going ahead with a purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system, a Turkish parliamentarian said ahead of an informal Friday deadline which a U.S. official said Washington has set for Ankara to respond to a rival U.S. offer. NATO member Turkey has repeatedly said it is committed to buying …

Abu Dhabi hosted a board meeting of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) at Louvre Abu Dhabi today. A global initiative led by the UAE and France, the foundation was established in response to the massive destruction in recent years of outstanding, often ancient, …

Keïta Aminata Maïga, First Lady of Mali, said that the UAE has become a model of providing humanitarian assistance to all countries, with tolerance at the core of its altruistic work for 2019. She made this statement while visiting the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment. Saleh …

Abu Dhabi will host the sixth edition of the World Ocean Summit next month, marking the very first time the international conference comes to the Middle East. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of …

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has received President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who is visiting the country to participate in the World Government Summit, WGS. Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the Rwandan President and his …

The European Union has convened a wide-ranging industrial group to work on promoting the euro and fighting the monopoly of the U.S. dollar in oil and commodities trading, reflecting broader tensions with Washington over trade and sanctions. The group, which involves executives from European oil firms such as OMV and …

Tolerance and non-judgemental understanding may be the best way to try to save radicalized young Europeans who want to go and join militant Islamists in Middle Eastern conflicts, veteran French actress Catherine Deneuve said on Tuesday. “Farewell to the Night”, which premiered on Tuesday at the Berlin Film Festival, tells …

Foreign ministers and senior officials from 60 nations gather in the Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday where the United States hopes to ratchet up pressure against Iran despite concerns among major European countries about heightened tensions with Tehran. The absence of foreign ministers from major European powers, Germany and France, …

Etihad Airways Engineering has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Satair, one of the world’s largest aviation spares and solution providers. The signing ceremony took place at MRO Middle East 2019 in Dubai with Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways Engineering and Terry Stone, Managing Director and Head …

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, announced that the World Bank will be establishing its office in ADGM on Al Maryah Island. The signing of an agreement to set up the office was witnessed by Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for …

German authorities banned two media organizations it said are linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers party (PKK), considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and Turkey, after raids early on Tuesday. Police searched the Mesopotamia Publishing House and MIR Multimedia in the western states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower …

An Indonesian militant who appeared on an Islamic State propaganda video showing the execution of a hostage and was said to be close to the militant group’s leader was killed in Syria last month, an Indonesian police spokesman and his brother said. Muhammad Saifuddin, who was known by various aliases, …

Indian conglomerate Lohia Group said on Tuesday it acquired Israel’s Light & Strong Ltd, a maker of carbon fiber and glass fiber composite components for the aerospace and defense sector. Financial details were not disclosed The acquisition will allow Lohia, which is headquartered in Kanpur, India, to combine its engineering …

The Kremlin said on Tuesday there were no substantial talks currently taking place to establish an alliance between Russia and OPEC. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in December it was highly unlikely OPEC and other oil producers would set up a joint structure due to the additional red tape it …

The Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market, ADGM, and the Casablanca Finance City Authority, CFCA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to foster closer collaboration among the UAE, Morocco and Africa and jointly promote the development of financial services in the respective markets. The MoU was signed by …

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, has described the UAE economy as “exemplary for emerging economies.” “I am very impressed by the economic diversification efforts made by the UAE and the new and innovative ways adopted by the country to accelerate new and innovative …

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), was honoured today with the “International Lifetime Achievement Award” for his outstanding contribution to the global energy industry. The award was presented to him by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of …

At a time when oil is still a very important ingredient for the UAE economy, Dubai sets an example of “Service-driven” and “Tourism-driven” economy. Jose Angel Gurria Trevino, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, says “Dubai is now mostly service-driven; tourism-driven at the time oil …

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, stated that the UAE has contributed in alleviating global poverty and launched development projects which helped the international community achieve development goals and addressed most difficult challenges. “We have come a long way in implementing the outputs from …

The ‘H.H. Sheikha Fatima Global Humanitarian Campaign’ began in Kathor, Las Bela, Balochistan, Pakistan. The campaign aims to treat children, women and elderly people, under the slogan, “We are all Mother Fatima,” as the first specialist initiative of its kind that will provide the best diagnostic, treatment, preventive and surgical …

A new paper from PwC, “The Lost Workforce: Upskilling for the Future” – released in conjunction with Dubai’s World Government Summit – looks into strategies, actions and policies for resolving upskilling issues, calling for governments, businesses and society to work together, to engender sustainable growth, employability and inclusion. Released at …

Startups from the UAE and Africa will participate in the first-ever Chamberthon event that will be organised and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the Africa Tech Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 13th-15th. Details about the Chamberthon and mentorship programme were revealed during a kick-off meeting …

The seventh session of the World Government Summit kicked off this morning in Dubai with the participation of more than 4,000 people from 140 countries, including heads of state, ministers and officials who will gather to redefine the future of governments and unite efforts to shape the future of the …

Officials signed a short-term agreement on Sunday to boost South Korea’s contribution toward the upkeep of U.S. troops on the peninsula, after a previous deal lapsed amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the South to pay more. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, where the United …

Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA is telling customers of its joint ventures to deposit oil sales proceeds in an account recently opened at Russia’s Gazprombank AO, according to sources and an internal document seen by Reuters on Saturday. PDVSA’s move comes after the United States imposed tough, new financial sanctions …

The seventh edition of the World Government Summit (WGS 2019) will host the first Astana Civil Service Hub (ACSH) meeting to be held outside of a founding member country on February 11, with the participation of 40 countries stretching across Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Caucasus and …

Organised by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, ADFCA, in coordination with the German Agricultural Society, DLG, Abu Dhabi is set to host the first edition of EuroTier Middle East, from 2nd to 4th September 2019, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ADNEC. It will also be the first time EuroTier …

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy and Finance, at Al Shati Palace, today. Le Maire is currently visiting the UAE to participate in the World …

Palestinian officials have been invited to a U.S. conference on the Middle East hosted by Poland next week, a senior U.S. official said on Friday, but top Palestinian officials said they would not attend. The senior administration official told reporters White House senior adviser Jared Kushner would discuss plans for …