Author: arabcolumnist.com
DUBAI, November 6, 2025: The Emirates Group reported a record half-year profit of AED10.6 billion (US$2.9 billion) for the first six months of the 2025–26 financial year, a 13 percent increase over the same period last year. The Group’s profit before tax rose to AED12.2 billion (US$3.3 billion), marking the fourth consecutive year of record profitability for the half-year reporting period. Revenue for the Dubai-based aviation and travel services conglomerate reached AED75.4 billion (US$20.6 billion), up 4 percent from AED70.8 billion (US$19.3 billion) last year. The company also reported a strong EBITDA of AED21.1 billion (US$5.7 billion), 3 percent higher year-on-year. As of…
MOSCOW, 5 November 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Medal of Pushkin to UAE Ambassador to Russia Mohammed Ahmed Al Jaber in a ceremony held in the Russian capital. The honour was conferred under a presidential decree dated 22 October 2025, citing the ambassador’s contributions to enhancing “cultural and people-to-people ties” between the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation. Ambassador Al Jaber accepted the award on behalf of the UAE diplomatic mission in Moscow. The official statement from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE noted that the Medal of Pushkin is “one of the Russian state awards…
ABU DHABI, November 5, 2025: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on Wednesday with His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, President of the Republic of Fiji, to discuss advancing cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Fiji across key sectors, including renewable energy, trade, investment, tourism, and agriculture. The meeting took place at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi during President Lalabalavu’s working visit to the UAE. The two leaders reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and align development priorities in areas that contribute to the long-term economic and social advancement of both nations. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding collaboration through…
MOSCOW, November 2, 2025: Russia has officially launched its new nuclear-powered submarine, the Khabarovsk, at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, marking a major step in the country’s ongoing naval modernization program. The launch ceremony was attended by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and senior naval officials, highlighting the submarine’s strategic role within the Russian Navy. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Khabarovsk is classified as a heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser equipped with advanced underwater and robotic weapons systems. Minister Belousov described the launch as a significant milestone for the Russian Navy, stating that the vessel will enhance the protection of the nation’s maritime borders…
MILAN, November 2, 2025: Italian authorities have seized assets worth about €1.29 billion from the Luxembourg-based holding company controlling the spirits producer Campari Group as part of an investigation into alleged tax fraud. The seizure, approved by a judge in Monza, follows claims that the holding company failed to declare capital gains of approximately €5.3 billion during a corporate restructuring between 2018 and 2020. Campari assets unaffected as parent firm faces probe over past corporate merger. (Credit – Campari Group) The investigation focuses on a merger in which the holding company absorbed its Italian subsidiary, potentially incurring an exit tax under Italian law.…
CAIRO, 1 November 2025: Egypt officially inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) today in a ceremony held at the museum complex near the Giza Pyramids, marking the culmination of more than two decades of planning and construction.The opening event was attended by 79 official international delegations, including 39 led by heads of state, monarchs or government leaders, according to Egyptian presidential announcements. The ceremony featured an elaborate cultural programme with music, drone light displays and fireworks staged at the museum site. The museum complex is described by Egyptian authorities as the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation. It encompasses exhibition galleries…
DUBAI, October 28, 2025: The World Bank has recognized the United Arab Emirates as a leading model in the Middle East and North Africa for advancing human development and implementing inclusive policies that empower women and youth. The acknowledgement follows the release of the World Bank’s flagship report, “Embracing and Shaping Change: Human Development for a Middle East & North Africa Region in Transition,” published on Monday. Fadia Saadah, Regional Director for Human Development for the MENA, Afghanistan and Pakistan region at the World Bank, said the UAE has made significant progress through a combination of legislative reforms, social investment, and flexible employment policies. In particular, the country’s…
BOISE, Idaho, October 27, 2025: Idaho has enacted a first-of-its-kind state law that bans nearly all vaccine mandates, a move that has drawn national attention and praise from medical freedom advocates while prompting warnings from public health officials. The Idaho Medical Freedom Act, signed by Governor Brad Little earlier this year, prohibits government entities, schools, daycare centers and most private employers from requiring any individual to receive a vaccine or other medical intervention as a condition of employment, education or access to services. The law, which took effect in July, is considered one of the most sweeping restrictions on vaccine mandates in…
NEW DELHI, October 25, 2025: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that India’s economy will grow by 6.6 percent in the fiscal year 2025-26, outpacing China’s 4.8 percent, according to the Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook report released on Friday. The IMF’s updated forecast reflects India’s stronger-than-expected performance in the first quarter of the current fiscal year and continued resilience in domestic demand. The report attributes this growth momentum to robust private consumption, expanding manufacturing and services sectors, and sustained public and private investment activity, which have together offset global trade headwinds. For China, the IMF estimates growth of 4.8 percent for 2025-26, a moderation from previous years…
BERLIN, Oct. 25, 2025: Porsche AG reported an operating loss of €967 million for the third quarter of 2025, its first quarterly loss since the company went public in 2022. The result compares with an operating profit of €974 million in the same period a year earlier, marking a sharp reversal for the German luxury automaker. For the first nine months of 2025, Porsche’s operating profit dropped to €40 million, down from more than €4 billion in the corresponding period last year. Porsche reports €967 million quarterly loss as car industry feels economic strain. (Credit – Porsche) The company attributed the loss primarily to…