Author: dailyguardian.ae

Australia is undertaking futuristic reforms to its existing migration system with a greater scrutiny of antecedents of applicants. In its new migration strategy, the Australian government outlined a vision with a policy roadmap containing several key “actions” and over 25 new policy commitments and areas for future reform. People familiar with the matter said it will not have an adverse impact on the flow of Indian students and professionals into the country. The new migration strategy will include greater scrutiny of English language proficiency. This migration strategy was unveiled on Monday following extensive consultation with key stakeholders with an aim…

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is aiming to raise $3 billion over the next few years through its Green Finance Framework, a senior official said. Proceeds will be used for the purpose of financing Masdar’s equity in new greenfield solar, wind or battery storage projects, Niall Hannigan, Chief Financial Officer, Masdar, told Khaleej Times in an interview. “Getting climate finance right presents a huge opportunity for growing renewable energy capacity around the world,” he added. Earlier this year, Masdar announced the successful completion of its first green bond issuance for $750 million 10-year senior unsecured notes. “The appetite was…

FAB joins Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition to advance climate action in UAE Announced at COP28, the partnership supports the UAE’s National Carbon Sequestration Project roadmap The Coalition contributes to the UAE’s mangrove planting and restoration efforts that boost the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation capabilities Dubai, UAE; 11 December 2023: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has become the latest member of Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition, a global initiative that unifies corporate efforts to restore 100 million trees with the aim of contributing to the fight against climate change. The partnership supports the UAE’s National Carbon Sequestration Project, which aims…

Best Buy has one of the better headphone deals for someone seeking a practical pair of earbuds for their workouts or runs that don’t cost a fortune. Today, you can buy the JBL Reflect Mini Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for $80, saving $70 off the regular price of $150. If you have a My Best Buy membership, you can save a further $20 bringing them down to just $60. Comfy to wear while offering all the key features you could need, these earbuds will make a great gift for someone this holiday season — or a sweet upgrade for yourself. Here’s everything…

Shops, schools and government offices shut across the occupied West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem on Monday as Palestinians staged a general strike protesting against Israel’s relentless onslaught in the Gaza Strip. The bloodiest ever war in Gaza has killed more than 18,200 Palestinians in the territory, mostly women and children, and 104 Israeli soldiers, according to the latest reported death tolls. Activists had called for a strike in solidarity with the besieged territory covering businesses, public workers and education. Many Palestinians took part and rallies were staged in the West Bank, according to Essam Abu Baker who coordinates Palestinian…

The odds are against Manchester United as the three-time European Cup winners battle to avoid early elimination from the Champions League. United face Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday and need to end the German giants’ record 39-game unbeaten run in the group stages to have any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds. But even that might not be enough, with Erik ten Hag’s team sitting bottom of Group A and also relying on a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the group’s other game. “What I know is I never think of a negative scenario, we think…

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE VENTURE PROGRAMME IGNITES WIDESPREAD INTEREST FOR MENAT REGION’S CLIMATE CHALLENGES Applications Open Until December 18th for Researchers and Students Seeking to Make a Difference Dubai, 07 December: The Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme, launched by Goumbook in collaboration with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, SAB (Saudi Awwal Bank), and supported by EIT Food, has garnered a strong response from various countries highlighting a collective drive to address the pressing climate-related challenges in the MENAT region. The programme has shown strong appeal and impact in several regions, particularly during the first three weeks of its launch. The highest registration rates…

Final Fantasy 16 tells a complete story right out of the box, that hasn’t stopped Square-Enix from capitalizing on players’ love of the game with two planned DLCs. The first of these is called Echoes of the Fallen, and it takes place near the end of the main campaign, expanding upon Clive and pals’ adventure with a brand-new questline. This exciting extra excursion is a relatively short slice of content that should take most players between two and three hours to complete – but for diehard fans, especially, there are some important world-building moments within that should make it well…

The director of a hospital in the UAE has been replaced after the healthcare facility featured at the bottom of the list of worst service centres. The director-general of the Emirates Health Services — which manages the Kalba Hospital — has been asked to be at the facility over the next month to ensure services are bettered. This came as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the best and worst federal government entities. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure service centre in Ras Al Khaimah was…

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region offers robust growth opportunities for the footwear and leather goods trade on the back of a booming retail spending power estimated to hit $150 billion by 2026, leading leather producers said on Monday. While population growth, demographic dividend and ease of access attract leather industry majors to the region in the backdrop of increasing non-tariff barriers in western export destinations, leading global exporters seek to ride the retail boom sparked by an annual six to eight per cent spending surge, led mostly by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. According to a retail…