Global Outlook

 In a shocking accident on Thursday on the auspicious occasion of the Hindu festival of Ram Navami, at least 35 people were killed after falling into a well while offering prayers at Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal Temple in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. While 14 others have been rescued in the mishap that took place in Indore city, one person is still missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences to the victims' families and has also announced a compensation of over $2,400 for them. According to police, a number of people were standing during a prayer ceremony on a concrete slab covering the well when it collapsed under their weight, plunging the devotees into the almost 40 feet deep well. While 18 people were rushed to the hospital following the accident, a couple of them have been discharged so far, ANI news channel quoted senior official Illayaraja T as saying. An intense search operation is still underway to trace the missing person

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host the prestigious International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in its capital Abu Dhabi in 2025. Around 10,000 environmental experts and specialists from 160 countries will likely attend the event. During a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE , approved plans to host the event. He reportedly also said that 2023 “will be the strongest economic year for the UAE in its history, God willing.” Razan Al Mubarak, the Managing Director (MD) of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, is also the president of the prestigious IUCN organization. She is the only woman from the UAE to be part of IUCN. In 2021, she created history by becoming the second woman to lead the organization in 72 years.  IUCN has 1,400 members representing 150 countries. IUCN is a permanent observer member of the United

 According to research by the Nomad Passport Rating Index, the UAE has once again been the country with the strongest passport in the world. The rating of passports was based on factors including freedom, perception, dual citizenship, taxation, and travel. The UAE passport receives a total score of 110.50 since it enables travel to 181 nations. The index used news sources and publicly accessible passport data to rank travel access for the UAE, according to the research. “We total the nations with Visa-free, Visa On Arrival, and eTA to determine the Travel ratings. We gave the UAE a travel score of 181, as there are 116 countries that UAE passport holders can enter without a visa (i.e., visa-free countries), 58 countries that permit UAE passport holders to enter by getting a visa on arrival (i.e., visa-on-arrival countries), and 7 destinations that accept electronic travel authorizations (eTAs),” the report said. Passport holders from the UAE are permitted to travel to 181 countries and

Eli Cohen, the foreign minister of Israel, and Mohamed Al Khaja, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Israel, signed a customs agreement on Sunday that prepares the way for the implementation of the free trade agreement between the two nations. The Abraham Accords , which were negotiated by the Trump administration and restored normal ties between Jerusalem and four Arab countries, Cohen referred to as "important news for the Israeli economy, for the strengthening of ties with the UAE, and is further testament to the importance of the Abraham Accords." The quickest free trade agreement in Israel's history was struck in Dubai in May 2022, about 18 months after the two nations established diplomatic ties. The deal eliminates tariffs on 96% of traded items, including everything from food to jewelry to medical supplies. A new provision in free-trade agreements guarantees to develop ways for small and medium-sized firms to profit from "commercial opportunities

According to a legal expert, employees in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may be fired without cause for disclosing trade secrets if doing so causes a loss of revenue or benefits the employee. According to Raka Roy of Galadari Associates and Law Consultants, as stated by Khaleej Times, divulging trade secrets might result in a minimum sentence of one year in prison and a minimum fine of AED 20,000 ($5,446). Nonetheless, divulging business secrets online is considered a cybercrime, which carries a minimum jail sentence of six months and a maximum fine of AED 1 million ($272,300). According to her, employees are required to surrender all company documents after their employment ends and are not permitted to keep originals or copies in their own possession. In the UAE, employers have the legal authority to sue any employee who violates a confidentiality agreement. Raka claims that the business may bring a claim while the person is still on the job or within a year after their dismissal. S

  Due to the advantages of the free trade agreement between the two nations, an official said on Thursday that India's exports to the UAE are anticipated to reach an "all-time high" of USD 32 billion by the end of this fiscal. As part of a review of the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the two nations also want to connect their customs and logistics portals for real-time tracking of goods for priority of entry in ports (CEPA). "India exports about USD 28.3 billion to the UAE. This year, we aim to surpass our previous record of 32 billion USD in exports," the source stated. In order to facilitate customs, India and the UAE are collaborating on integrating their logistics and customs portals, which will allow for real-time data transmission and ship tracking for priority port entrances. The trade pact, which went into effect on May 1, 2022, will probably be reviewed in May. Around 1.3 billion USD of India's exports go duty-free each mon

 IT services firm Accenture lowered its annual revenue and profit forecasts on Thursday, with announcing plans to lay off 2.5% of its workforce, or roughly 19,000 employees. Nearly half of the affected staff are expected to leave the company "by the end of fiscal year 23," Chief Financial Officer KC McClure told analysts during the earnings call. Accenture started taking a number of steps during the second quarter in order to reduce costs, including streamlining operations, consolidating office space, and transforming non-billable corporate functions. More than half of the recent layoffs are expected to affect staff at the non-billable corporate functions. During the second quarter, the company recorded $244 million in business optimization costs and is likely to record total costs of roughly $1.5 billion through fiscal 2024 as per estimates. It expects $300 million for office space consolidation and $1.2 billion for severance, with nearly $800 million estimated in fiscal 202

Cricket is becoming more popular in more nations, which shows how deep and broad its appeal is. Several regions have reported seeing instances of intense drama and tension caused by the game. This was most obvious last week in Nepal , which many people do not often think of as a cricket-playing country. The game was a specialized pastime that was only played in Kathmandu before the 1980s. Early in the 1990s, a significant development program was implemented, which increased playing opportunities and infrastructure. As a result, the Nepal men's team participated in its first international competition—the Asia Cricket Cup—in 1996. Nepal joined the International Cricket Council as an Associate member in the same year. ICC T20I status and ODI status were awarded for consistent improvement in performance in 2014 and 2018, respectively. This was accomplished in a dramatic manner, which has come to represent Nepal's cricketing personality. Nepal needed to defeat Hong Kong in its last

  According to the latest survey by Nano Interactive, scores of Muslims in the UK are likely to cut back on their Ramadan spending owing to the deepening cost of living crisis. While 48% of respondents said the situation has already imposed considerable stress on their Ramadan and Eid preparations, 41% said they expected to eat out less for iftar this year. A mother of four, Iman, will not be buying dates this Ramadan . The fruits gain increased prominence during the holy month. But their growing cost has made them unaffordable for a number of families in the UK. Prices of dates have shot up to £10 per kg from £4-6, Iman said. Nevertheless, certain supermarkets are offering better deals compared to the local shops. In a Facebook group created to bring Egyptians in the country together, one woman suggested that the larger supermarkets were purchasing in bulk and therefore were able to offer better deals and pass some of their savings on to their customers. In fact, The National found

 The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), has pardoned 1,025 prisoners ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan 2023 is expected to begin in the UAE on Wednesday. UAE’s directives to pardon prisoners are in line with humanitarian efforts to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce the burden on their families. Every year in Ramadan, the UAE leader offers pardons to hundreds of inmates to give them a second chance at life.  During the holy month of Ramadan , the UAE seeks to deliver support and aid to people in need across the world. Recently, the UAE has launched the “1 Billion Meals Endowment” initiative in order to remove hunger from the world and provide sustainable food aid to people in need. The “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign will implement sustainable programmes globally to raise enough funds for one billion meals for hungry people around the world. The initiative is expected to start on the first day of the holy mo

  Bashar Assad, the president of Syria, made his first trip to the affluent Gulf nation since the deadly earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria last month on Sunday. According to a statement from Assad's office, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Assad, who travelled with his wife Asma and a delegation of Syrian officials. The two "had good conversations aimed at improving relations between our two countries," Sheikh Mohammed said in a post on Twitter. More than ten years after the 22-member Arab League suspended Damascus' membership due to Assad's ruthless crackdown on protesters and later on civilians during the war, the visit signifies a continuation of the continuing thawing of relations between Syria and other Arab nations. The earthquake's response to global sympathy seems to have accelerated the long-brewing regional reconciliation. The UAE has already repaired ties with Damascus before the incident. With the start of the

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has started preparing for the holy month of Ramadan. The residents have been stocking up on their essentials for Ramadan 2023. Supermarkets and retail stores across the UAE are offering huge discounts and special offers on various products for the holy month.  Carrefour, a French multinational retailer in the UAE, started a Ramadan campaign to offer 50% discounts on more than 6,000 products. Bernardo Perloiro, Chief Operating Officer-GCC, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, reportedly said, “We see a rise in the shopping of food items, especially essential ingredients like cooking oil.” Ramadan in the UAE will begin on March 23. It is the most auspicious time of the year for Muslims across the world. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide with excitement, happiness, pomp, and grandeur. Ramadan is marked as a month of hope, happiness, prayers, fasting, reflection and community. Muslims observe fast along with the

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crime allegations, including his suspected involvement in the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. The crimes were committed in occupied areas of Ukraine at least from 24 February 2022, when the Russian leader launched a so-called special military operation in the neighboring nation, the Hague-based court said in a statement on Friday. Nevertheless, Moscow has repeatedly rejected allegations of war crimes during the invasion. Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia 's commissioner for children's rights, is also wanted by the court over similar allegations. The ICC says it has reasonable grounds to believe Putin committed the unlawful acts directly as well as working with others, adding the president even failed to exercise his rights to stop others involved in the deportation. Despite the arrest warrants, the court has no powers to arre

Are UAE citizens content? In a recent study titled "Cities of Choice: Are People Happy Where They Live?," this subject was addressed, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi were both ranked among the best cities in the world. In the "Cities of Choice" study by the US-based Boston Consulting Group, Dubai came out on top in the "Social Capital" dimension, beating out other "cruiser weight" cities with populations of more than 3 million but fewer than 10 million, including Washington, Singapore, San Francisco, Guangzhou, Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Barcelona, and Berlin. Dubai received a score of 74, which is considered to be "showing that citizens have a strong feeling of belonging and loyalty to their city and they maintain important social relationships." The level of social ties and civic engagement within a city are gauged by social capital. Also, it discusses safety, safety in relationships, inclusivity, equality, and identity with culture and histo

 Russia said on Wednesday it would try to retrieve the remnants of a large US MQ-9 Reaper drone that plunged into the Black Sea on Tuesday. There are conflicting statements on the aircraft downing. In claims Moscow has strongly denied, Washington said it had to bring down the drone after it became "unflyable and uncontrollable" when a Russian jet clipped its propeller. Russian security council secretary Nikolai Patrushev confirmed on state television that Moscow was trying to trace the aircraft, adding its presence in the Black Sea confirmed that the US had direct involvement in the war. Meanwhile, the US is also attempting to find the downed drone. Although Washington and London have previously gone to great lengths in order to recover their technology after crashes, the Pentagon seems more relaxed about losing the aircraft. It's an older technology and a number of them have been lost before. Moreover, attempts to retrieve the remnants next to a war zone, with Russian sh

 In another shocking revelation, Facebook-parent Meta Platforms announced on Tuesday it would let go 10,000 employees, just four months after it cut 11,000 jobs - becoming the first Big Tech company to declare a second round of mass layoffs. "We expect to ... close around 5,000 additional open roles that we haven't yet hired," Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a message to staff. The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday on the company planning to cut scores of jobs in multiple rounds over the next few months. Following the report, Meta's shares rose by over 2% in after-hours trading. The WhatsApp owner had laid off 13% of its workforce last November, repeating the moves of numerous tech companies which had announced thousands of job cuts blaming the economic downturn. And in February this year, Meta revealed that it expects its 2023 expenses at between $89 billion and $95 billion, with the CEO describing the period as a "Year of Efficiency"

 The indie hit Everything Everywhere All at Once was the biggest winner at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12. The landmark film grabbed seven Oscars out of its total 11 nominations and was widely praised for a number of reasons, including the casting which celebrates Asian and Asian-American stars in Hollywood. At the ceremony, the picture earned three of the unprecedented four nominations for Asian actors in the acting categories. "Ladies, don't let anyone tell you you are past your prime," Michelle Yeoh said while receiving the Best Actress award, the first Asian to win in the category. Ke Huy Quan has made one of the greatest comebacks in Hollywood with Everything Everywhere All at Once. "I cannot believe it is happening to me," he said while accepting the Best Supporting Actor award, the second male Asian actor to take home the trophy in the category. Other major wins for the metaphysical multiverse comedy, include Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (t

 Diseases, parasites, pesticides, and droughts triggered by climate change are causing bee colonies all over the world to collapse, threatening large parts of our food supply. The dreaded American Foulbrood is so serious that the government requires infected hives to be burned and buried. There is no cure for the disease, and, until now, no drug to prevent it. There is a beam of hope now. In a landmark move, the US Department of Agriculture has approved the use of the world's first vaccine for honeybees. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health - the biotech company which partnered with the University of Georgia to develop the vaccine, said "it's like magic," adding "you vaccinate the queen and she passes it on to the millions of offspring that make the colony." Honeybees play a crucial role in agriculture as they pollinate crops needed for the world's food supply. They are known to pollinate at least 33% of food grown in the US - essential to produ

 A new film highlighting the value of fitness in space has been created, including Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi who is now in orbit, and Col. Hazzaa Al Mansouri who is currently based in Houston. The Emirates Literary Foundation (ELF) in Space's first episode includes this. Col. Mansouri also discusses the importance of exercise in space , how it differs from exercising on Earth, and how gravity and microgravity affect exercise choices in space. Salem AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC, and Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literary Foundation, are also shown urging viewers to tune in and explaining what to anticipate in the upcoming episodes in the video. Visitors from the UAE, Egypt, India, the UK, and the US tuned in to see the first episode, which saw more than 170 schools sign up to watch it. Students can follow Sultan AlNeyadi's voyage on the orbital station for the following 20 weeks. They will also get the chance to study from writers, specialists in s

 During a news conference on Thursday, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected Republican-led calls for the US military to intervene to counter drug cartel violence in the country, adding Mexico "does not take orders from anyone". Such a move would violate Mexico's sovereignty, he further mentioned. On Wednesday, Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw asked the Mexican president why he opposed a proposed legislation the congressman introduced in January, authorizing US military force to stem drug cartel violence in the neighboring country. "The cartels are ... creating a crisis at our border and turning Mexico into a failed narco-state," Crenshaw mentioned in a statement on January 12 about the proposal. In a Fox News interview on Monday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham advocated putting forward legislation to classify some drug cartels in Mexico as "foreign terrorist groups", adding it was time to "put Mexico on notice". A rece

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ukrainian officials have discussed the latest progress of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) between the two countries. In December 2022, the two countries launched preliminary Cepa talks. Later on, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates announced their intention to conclude a CEPA . The two countries signed Cepa to strengthen cooperation in various sectors.  Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE, met Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, in Dubai, a city in the UAE, on Thursday. The ministers discussed various measures to boost cooperation in property, transport, energy, agriculture, technology, manufacturing and retail. Dr Al Zeyoudi said, “The agreement presents a new road map to boost trade exchanges, and provide more investment and trade opportunities for the UAE and Ukrainian business communities.” Svyrydenko said that CEPA would contribute to enhancing the bilateral econ

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its capital Abu Dhabi are well-positioned for the future and can be an example to the world, according to former US Secretary of State and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Clinton came to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, to take part in the second annual Forbes 30/50 Summit, an event celebrating generations of female leaders. The event started on March 8 to coincide with International Women's Day.  Clinton also met New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) students. Mariet Westermann, NYUAD Vice Chancellor, said, “It is a great honor for NYU Abu Dhabi to welcome Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former US Secretary of State, to our campus.” Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) on Monday, Clinton said that the UAE can set an example to the world when it hosts COP 28 later this year.  Clinton would also be joined in conversation by Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, tennis great, and equality champion Billie Jean King and Glori

 UAE expatriates will soon be able to obtain "Credit Passports" thanks to a new partnership. Tuesday saw the announcement of a strategic partnership between the top consumer-permission credit bureau in the world, Nova Credit, and Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB). The change will allow newcomers to use their credit history from their home country when applying for financial services once they arrive in the UAE. For AECB users, Credit Passport is currently available to support credit applications with history in nations including India, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom, with other nations to follow soon. According to Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, CEO of AECB, AECB is one of the first governmental organizations in the area to offer cross-border credit solutions, adding value for lenders, borrowers, companies, governments, and the general public through significant partnerships with foreign bureaus. In keeping with the UAE's goal of being the epicenter of a borderless global econ

 Although there is still much to be done, Abu Dhabi and the UAE are well prepared for the future they must build together, according to former US Secretary of State and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. When Abu Dhabi hosts COP 28 later this year, the nation will have the opportunity to lead by example for the rest of the world. Speaking on Monday at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Clinton reflected on her previous visit to the capital of the UAE in 2011 and said everything that has transpired since then was a clear indication of how well-positioned Abu Dhabi and the UAE are for the future they must jointly construct. "Much of the commitment that I witnessed leaders make in my time as Secretary of State has been realized," she said of ADGM, which did not yet exist at the time. Nevertheless, she added, "I don't think any of us can stop and rest on our laurels because there is so much more to do." "Abu Dhabi has a real opportunity to highlig

 The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates and Aireon, the world's top provider of space -based ADS-B data, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to study how Aireon's data can be used for real-time surveillance, aviation safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency, aviation security, and the promotion of aviation development, sustainability, and innovation. The Agreement sets a framework for collaboration between GCAA and Aireon to further investigate the usage of Aireon's wide range of products, including the AireonINSIGHTS platform, GPS tracking, Aireon Locate search and rescue tool, and AireonFLOW air traffic management software, among others. The agreement also specifies chances for Aireon and GCAA to collaborate on defining the specifications for integrating Aireon data. According to Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon, "The Aireon data contains a tremendous deal of promise to increase operating efficiency and safety for GCAA."

 Scotland has become the first country in the world to ban the use of the anaesthetic desflurane - a gas NHS suggests has a global warming potential 2,500 times greater than carbon dioxide. UK hospitals have already extensively cut down on the use of the gas used to keep people unconscious during surgery. More than 40 hospital trusts in England and dozens of hospitals in Wales have stopped using it in the last few years. While NHS England will introduce a ban similar to the one in Scotland in 2024, other countries, including many in Europe, are expected to follow suit in the next few years. Banning the use of desflurane across Scotland and NHS hospitals in England could cut emissions equal to powering 1,700 homes and 11,000 homes a year, respectively. A number of hospitals in Scotland have switched to safe and effective anaesthetic gases with relatively less global warming potential such as sevoflurane, or to using alternative non-gaseous anaesthetics and better equipment. Meanwhile,

 International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the G20 (Group of 20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting concluded in New Delhi on Thursday. The UAE minister lauded the relations between the UAE and India . During the meeting, the UAE minister further said that the two countries achieved outstanding accomplishments as part of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Sheikh Abdullah thanked India for organizing the summit and holding important discussions on pressing global issues. According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting included two main sessions to discuss food, energy, security, and development cooperation, as well as counterterrorism and narcotics. The UAE minister also shed light on the UAE’s hosting of the COP28 climate conference this year. He said that the UAE would address prominent global issues during the summit.  The two countries have established strong bilateral relat

  Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan , the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation arrived in India on Wednesday to take part in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Notably, both the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, have arrived for the meeting. Moreover, The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will take place on March 2 while India holds the G20 leadership. Over 40 delegations are anticipated to attend the meeting, which will be hosted in the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center. This will be the second ministerial gathering convened thus far while India is in the Presidency. Bangalore hosted the first ministerial gathering of central bank governors and finance ministers. The meeting will also be attended by the foreign ministers of Canada, Argentina, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Furthermore, it is one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers ever held by a G20 president, accordi

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the best countries in the world. The excellent leadership of the UAE has helped the country in many ways. The UAE has been making significant achievements on many fronts, including human rights. Last month, a high-level panel discussion on Human Rights in the UAE was held in Geneva in Switzerland. Thirteen international human rights groups launched the Shadow Report for the UAE to discuss the country's human rights situation. They submitted the report at the 43rd Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council.  Experts talked about the achievements of the UAE in various fields. The experts came from prestigious international organizations with consultative status at the United Nations (UN).  Dr. Manel Msalmi from the European Association for The Defense of Minorities lauded the efforts of the UAE in various fields. Mahmoud Bassiouni, a Member of the Egyptian National Council for Human

 The organisation of COP28, according to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, demonstrates the UAE's commitment to bringing together countries and institutions from around the world to come up with solutions for pressing global problems. The Crown Prince of Dubai stated that the UAE is looking forward to hosting a dialogue on environmental issues at COP28 that will have a lasting impact on global sustainability and the future of humanity while presiding over a meeting of the higher committee in charge of overseeing preparations for the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28 UAE) held at Expo City Dubai. According to him, "COP28 promises to open new routes to resolving global environmental and climate-related concerns, consistent with the UAE's success in hosting large global events." To ensure the success of COP28, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the significance of

If you are going to Dubai for a visit or you are already there and want to shop there you can take home as a memory of Dubai. You are at the right place, here we start with what are the cool things you can buy in Dubai. Top 10 Things To Buy In Dubai  1. Aladdin Lamps: Bright & Fun These beautiful brass and glass lamps are commonly found in many markets and shops all over Dubai, and they are one of the best things you can buy. They come in a range of beautiful colors and designs. If you are unsure of what to buy in Dubai, get Aladdin lamps because they make great gifts for friends and family, and are a wonderful way to remember your trip to Dubai. Be sure to ask about any special care instructions you need when you purchase Dubai's famous things. To ensure that you're getting a quality product, make sure you buy from a reputable seller. These lamps are delicate and should be handled with care. You should compare prices before you buy, as prices can vary widely. The avera