Tourism UK should have done better on Covid-19: IATA director general A top airline industry official on Tuesday said the UK should have responded “a hell of a lot better” to Covid-19 and argued aviation should have been more forceful in challenging government-mandated border closures during the pandemic. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also defended airlines’ handling of a rebound […] June 8, 2022
Banking and Finance South Africa calls for swift extradition of Guptas from UAE South Africa’s governing party on Tuesday called for the swift extradition of Rajesh and Atul Gupta to face the allegations against them in South Africa after they were arrested in the United Arab Emirates. The Gupta brothers are accused of using their connections to former South African president Jacob Zuma, in power from 2009 to […] June 8, 2022
Energy UAE arrests Gupta brothers, wanted in South Africa The United Arab Emirates has arrested Rajesh and Atul Gupta, brothers who face charges of corruption in South Africa. Dubai Police confirmed the arrest on Twitter, posting on Tuesday that it had received an Interpol red notice for the brothers and was coordinating with the South African authorities “regarding the extradition file to complete the legal procedures”. South Africa’s Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services said […] June 7, 2022
Energy Biden should not shake MBS’ hand in Riyadh, says top Democrat President Joe Biden should not visit Saudi Arabia or meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the chairman of the US House intelligence committee said on Sunday. Rep. Adam Schiff was asked about reports that the president will travel to Riyadh in July and hold talks with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler – […] June 6, 2022
Energy White House praises Saudi crown prince ahead of expected Biden trip The White House took the rare step of recognising the role played by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in extending a ceasefire in Yemen on Thursday ahead of what is expected to be a trip to Riyadh by President Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that bin Salman and […] June 3, 2022
Markets China ‘firmly’ opposes US-Taiwan trade initiative China “firmly” opposes a new trade initiative between Taiwan and the United States, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday, a plan the government in Taipei says is a recognition of the key position the island plays in global supply chains. The United States and Taiwan announced the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade on Wednesday, […] June 2, 2022
Elon Musk tells Tesla staff: return to office or leave Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk has asked employees to return to the office or leave the company, according to an email sent to employees and seen by Reuters. “Everyone at Tesla is required to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week,” Musk wrote in the email sent on Tuesday night. […] June 2, 2022
Biden planning Gulf visit this month US officials are planning a trip for President Joe Biden to the Middle East later this month to meet Gulf allies, which could put him in the same room with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sources said on Wednesday. No final decisions have been made about the trip, according to sources inside and outside […] June 2, 2022
Agriculture Turkish factory activity contracts for third straight month in May Turkish manufacturing activity contracted for the third month running in May as both output and orders slowed amid muted demand and ongoing price pressures, a business survey showed on Wednesday. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing stood at 49.2 in May, unchanged from April, said a panel from the Istanbul Chamber of Industry and […] June 1, 2022
Markets Finland and Sweden to continue NATO talks with Turkey Finland and Sweden said on Wednesday they would continue a dialogue with Turkey over their bids for NATO membership, but did not say whether there had been progress on overcoming Ankara’s objections to their joining the military alliance. The Nordic neighbours applied to join NATO last month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but […] June 1, 2022
Markets What’s eating meal delivery stocks? Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. Whatever happened to these lockdown winners? Meal delivery companies had a great run in the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic and strived as growth and tech stocks led the rebound from the COVID-19 market crash. Things couldn’t be more different […] June 1, 2022
Retail Amazon.com says it is being unfairly targeted by US Congress bill By David Shepardson and Diane Bartz Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday lambasted a bill in Congress barring tech giants from giving preference to their own businesses on their websites, saying it unfairly singles the retailer out while not subjecting rivals to similar regulations. The Senate could vote on the bill as early as this month, media […] June 1, 2022
Manufacturing UK manufacturing growth hits 16-month low in May British manufacturing activity expanded in May at the weakest rate since January 2021, as producers of consumer goods struggled against a worsening cost-of-living crunch, a survey showed on Wednesday. The final estimate of the S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 54.6 in May from 55.8 in April, unchanged from a preliminary […] June 1, 2022
Tourism DP World-owned P&O Ferries loses UK government contract Britain says it has cancelled a contract with P&O Ferries “with immediate effect” in its latest action against the DP World-owned company following its decision to axe hundreds of staff earlier this year. The Home Office (interior ministry) said it was ending its agreement with the firm to provide contingency travel services to “juxtaposed ports” […] June 1, 2022
Energy Russia’s Lavrov to meet GCC ministers in Riyadh on Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Saudi state media said, on a visit that Gulf officials said would feature a meeting with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Lavrov, who also visited Bahrain earlier on Tuesday, is expected to meet ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab […] June 1, 2022
Opinion How payments tech will supercharge government digitisation The CEO of UAE-based payment solutions firm Network International says the near-zero cost of digital platforms will increasingly optimise public sector services May 31, 2022
UAE, Egypt and Jordan sign $10bn industrial power pact Abu Dhabi's ADQ to allocate $10 billion in investment for projects. Focus includes agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and textiles May 30, 2022
Opinion Corporate tax will enhance transparency in the UAE Businesses will no longer be able to inflate their profit, and will have to justify their deductible expenses May 27, 2022
Turkey to receive $500m from World Bank for COVID-19 vaccines The World Bank said on Thursday that its board had approved $500 million in additional financing to support Turkey in its efforts to fight against COVID-19. The funds, which will have a maturity of 10.5 years with a five-year grace period, will be used to ensure access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Turkey, […] May 27, 2022
Energy Oil top of the agenda on White House visit to Saudi this week Two senior US officials visited Saudi Arabia this week for talks that included global energy supplies, Iran and other regional issues, the White House said on Thursday. Meeting senior Saudi officials in Riyadh were Brett McGurk, Biden’s top White House adviser on the Middle East, and Amos Hochstein, the State Department’s energy envoy. “I will […] May 27, 2022
US lawmakers voice doubts about Biden reaching a deal with Iran The United States said on Wednesday it was ready to tighten sanctions and act with Israel and others to counter the Iranian threat if shaky efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal fail, but lawmakers voiced doubts about both options. “We do not have a deal … and prospects for reaching one are, at […] May 26, 2022
Qatar pledges £10bn investment in key UK sectors The UK and Qatar have signed a new Strategic Investment Partnership which will see Qatar invest up to £10 billion over the next five years in key sectors of the UK economy including fintech, zero emissions vehicles, life sciences and cyber security. Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, welcomed the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim […] May 25, 2022
