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Emirates NBD's Maurice Gravier said the UAE would be a "probable winner" as trade restrictions increase

The new Switzerland: diplomacy is key to UAE’s trade success

The UAE is “the new Switzerland” and poised to reap the benefits of its good relationships with both East and West, the investment boss of one of the Gulf’s leading banks has said. Maurice Gravier, chief investment officer at Emirates NBD Group, said he believed the world needed neutral powers, “a place to speak between […]

climate finance Al Jaber Cop28

Cop28 chief sets out UAE’s vision for climate finance

The UAE intends to make financing for climate change projects “more affordable [and] much more accessible”, the country’s oil chief and Cop28 president has said. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said finance reforms were needed because the world was “way off track” the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accord, during a speech to the Atlantic […]

COP27

Cop27 climate talks in Egypt are set to get heated

The Cop27 climate talks, which begin on Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on behalf of Africa face the challenges of an energy crisis and the war in Ukraine. These impactful events have dramatically changed the geopolitical context of Cop since Cop26 was held in the UK city of Glasgow last year. A key question expected […]

Tie, Accessories, Accessory

US special envoy for Yemen travels to the Middle East

The US special envoy for Yemen will visit Saudi and Jordan this week, as part of diplomatic efforts in support of the United Nations-mediated truce in Yemen. The US State Department reported on Monday. Tim Lenderking’s “engagements will focus on expanding, extending, and renewing the current truce agreement that will further the tangible benefits already […]

Yemen famine aid

New financing urgently needed to aid famine relief in Yemen

Yemen is searching for new wheat suppliers but will need help to pay for increasingly costly imports, an official and a main importer said, as the World Food Programme (WFP) warned of cuts to food aid for millions already living on the brink of famine. Disruption to global wheat supplies due to the Ukraine war […]

Guterres urges unconditional funds for Afghanistan aid

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan had “deteriorated alarmingly” and urged donors toprovide “unconditional and flexible funding” towards its $4.4 billion appeal for aid. Opening a high-level pledging conference, he said the Afghan economy had all but collapsed since the Taliban takeover in August and nine million Afghans […]

$600m projects frozen as Taliban issues school ban for girls

The World Bank has put four projects in Afghanistan worth $600 million on hold amid concerns over a decision by the country’s ruling Islamist leaders to ban girls from returning to public high schools, the bank said. The projects, to be funded under the revamped Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, were being readied for implementation by […]

Huge surge in measles as Covid hits jab campaigns

Measles cases jumped by 79 percent in the first two months of this year compared to 2021, after COVID-19 and lockdowns disrupted child vaccination campaignsaround the world, according to data from UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In January and February, there were 17,338 measles cases reported worldwide, up from 9,665 in the same […]

Yemen’s Houthis release crew of seized Emirati cargo vessel

The Houthi movement that controls most of northern Yemen has released the crew of the United Arab Emirates cargo ship RWABEE that was seized on January 3, the group’s spokesman said. The release of the crew – 11 in all according to sources familiar with the matter – was agreed with the assistance of Oman, spokesman Mohammed […]

Person, Human, Clothing

U.S. asset freezes worsen Afghan women’s suffering

The United States, as well as the Taliban authorities, is contributing to the suffering of women in Afghanistan through asset freezes, U.N. independent experts said on Monday. The United Nations and foreign governments, including Washington, have condemned moves by the Taliban to backtrack on women’s rights commitments such as on girls’ education in the months […]

Person, Human, Clothing

Aid groups push to feed Yemen’s hungry millions during Ramadan ceasefire

A two-month ceasefire has given aid groups a chance to step up aid to Yemen’s hungry millions, but malnutrition ravaging children is projected to worsen if fighting returns or humanitarian funding does not pick up. “The benefits of the first weeks of truce are already significant,” said Erin Hutchinson, Yemen Director for the Norwegian Refugee […]

Clothing, Apparel, Person

World Bank to push ahead with some Afghan projects

The World Bank has resumed work on three projects in Afghanistan focused on health, agriculture and livelihoods, but will maintain a hold on some $150 million for education projects, two sources familiar with the decision said Tuesday. The multilateral development bank had put all four projects, valued at around $600 million, on hold in late […]