Tourism US to seize luxury planes owned by Roman Abramovich A US court on Monday issued warrants for the seizure of two luxury planes owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich under US measures imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, court records showed. But the US government’s likelihood of gaining control of the aircraft worth nearly $400 million was uncertain. A Department of Justice official said […] June 8, 2022
Analysis Canada and Dubai grow closer with every deal struck A Canadian pension fund company’s decision to invest $5 billion in UAE multinational logistics company DP World’s assets is a striking example of the deepening commercial ties between the two countries. Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec’s (CPDQ) announced the deal on Monday. It will see CPDQ take a 22 percent stake in DP World’s prized assets in […] June 7, 2022
Retail Saudi PIF ‘shortlisted as bidder for stake in Starbucks MENA’ Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been shortlisted to buy a stake in the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia Starbucks franchise held by Alshaya Group, according to two sources. The franchise has several hundred coffee shops in 14 countries across the Middle East, Russia and central Asia. Kuwait-based Alshaya Group, the region’s […] June 6, 2022
Perimeter 81 joins the unicorns after $100m funding round Perimeter 81 is now valued at $1 billion, the Israeli cybersecurity startup has revealed, gaining unicorn status after it raised $100 million to fund product development. The fundraising, led by B Capital, marked a jump in valuation from its last round in August 2020, when the company was valued at $200 million. ION Crossover Ventures […] June 6, 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
Business of Sport Canadian bank terminates sponsor deals over Saudi-backed rival golf tour Royal Bank of Canada said on Wednesday it decided to terminate sponsor agreements with Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell after the former major champions decided to play in the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series next week. World number 13 Johnson was both the highest-ranked and most surprising golfer named to the […] June 2, 2022
Energy UN nuclear watchdog urged to rebuke Iran, draft resolution shows IAEA reported scant progress with Iran on uranium traces Report came after three-month process to revive dialogue West previously held off of sending resolution to Board Iran bristles at such moves, could hurt talks on 2015 deal The United States, France, Britain and Germany are pushing for the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors to […] June 1, 2022
Retail Dubai’s Aramex in $265m deal to buy US e-commerce firm Dubai-listed courier firm Aramex has bought US-based e-commerce company Access USA Shipping, in a deal valued at around $265 million, it was reported on Wednesday. Access USA Shipping, operating as MyUS, is described as a technology-driven, cross-border e-commerce platform, and serves customers in the US, UK and China. “We see significant benefits to be derived […] 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
Cinemark subscription surge hails post-pandemic cinema rebound Cinemark Holdings Inc has signed up 1 million paying subscribers to its Movie Club monthly subscription plan, the company said on Wednesday, hailing a rebound in moviegoing after disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic. The third-largest movie theater chain in the United States said it was the first cinema operator to cross the 1 million milestone […] June 1, 2022
Abu Dhabi leads $725m fundraising by US insurance broker Acrisure said on Tuesday it had raised $725 million in a fresh funding round led by a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, valuing the insurance brokerage at $23 billion. The company has benefited from a jump in global commercial insurance premiums that rose 11 percent on average in the first quarter, according […] June 1, 2022
Business of Sport Roman era ends as Abramovich completes sale of Chelsea FC Roman Abramovich has completed the sale of Chelsea FC to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the Premier League club said on Monday. The consortium, which won the bid to acquire the London side earlier this month, received approval from the Premier League and the British government last week. A final […] May 30, 2022
Opinion Real Estate Sunny days ahead for investors looking to the US Damac is entering the US market with a Miami condo. And that's not the only good news in the forecast – a court ruling this week is tipped to unlock America's EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme May 30, 2022
Banking and Finance Cryptocurrencies face regulation to avoid illicit dealings Cryptocurrency firms, many of which lined the main street in Davos this week, were told they will need to clean up their act before gaining complete acceptance from the World Economic Forum’s old guard. “The future of crypto, I’m sorry to say, looks regulated to me,” said Nela Richardson, senior vice president and chief economist […] 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
Energy US seizes Russian ship with Iranian oil cargo The United States has confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel, three sources familiar with the matter said. Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the coast of the […] May 26, 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
Energy Saudi Aramco keen to buy stake in US-based motor oil firm Oil giant Saudi Aramco has approached motor oil and lubricant maker Valvoline Inc to buy its segment that caters to commercial customers, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. Valvoline, which is valued at $5.4 billion as of Tuesday’s closing price, had last year decided to separate its retail services and global products […] May 26, 2022
