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Vietnam is moving towards approving the country’s first purchases of Chinese-made regional passenger aircraft, in a boost for China’s efforts to expand the overseas market for its home-grown jets.The Vietnamese deputy prime minister, Tran Hong Ha, has ordered the country’s Ministry of Transport to propose legal changes that would “facilitate the certification” of the C909 narrowbody jet, the state-run news website VietnamNet reported on Thursday.Budget airline VietJet Air has previously expressed interest in leasing the C909, which is produced by the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and was formerly known as the ARJ21, according to VietnamNet.An agreement to…

7,768 real estate transactions were executed last month, with sales accounting for 1,348 transactionsSharjah’s real estate sector continued to grow last month with the value of transactions amounting to AED3.5 billion ($952.99 million) for a total of 7,768 transactions, up from AED3.1 billion for a total of 4,458 real estate transactions in February 2024.The monthly statistical data issued by the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department revealed the total area traded in sales transactions reached 11.8 million square feet in February, up from 8.7 million square feet during the same month last year.The data indicated that 7,768 real estate transactions were…

Bank of Sharjah’s operating income nearly tripled from AED271 million in 2023 to AED727 million in 2024Bank of Sharjah announced today its 2024 financial results, reporting a record profit before tax of AED416 million ($113.27 million) and a significant turnaround from the AED275 million loss recorded in the preceding year. With net profit after tax soaring to AED385 million, the bank’s strong performance was driven by significant revenue growth, effective cost control measures and prudent risk management.“2024 has been an exceptional year for Bank of Sharjah, with the Bank achieving record profitability. These outstanding results reaffirm that our transformation strategy…

Gold prices rose in European trade on Friday on track for the fourth straight profit, hitting a new record high above $3000.    The precious metal is on track for the largest weekly profit in 2025 on strong haven demand amid concerns about the global trade war, and with increasing odds of a Fed rate cut in June.    Prices   Gold prices rose 0.45% to $3001 an ounce, the highest on record, with a session-low at $2980.   On Thursday, gold rose 1.9%, the third profit in a row, marking the best profit in 2025 on haven demand.   …

Etihad will fly to and from Medan on one of its new A321LR aircraft three times a weekEtihad Airways opened today the bookings for flights to Medan, the gateway to North Sumatra, Indonesia. The airline will start flights between Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), Medan, and Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) on October 2, 2025.Etihad will fly to and from Medan on one of its new A321LR aircraft three times a week. The destination is just one of 14 already announced by Etihad this year, with more expected to come.New destinations for 2025Last year, Etihad Airways announced the launch of…

Bullion is on track for a second consecutive weekly increase, rising 2.5 percent so far this weekGold prices hit an all-time high of $3,002.64 on Friday amid growing uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, trade tensions and increasing expectations of monetary policy easing by the Federal Reserve.In the UAE, gold rates recorded an increase, with 24-carat gold and 22-carat gold gaining AED1 to AED360 and AED335, respectively. Meanwhile, 21-carat gold rose AED1 to AED321.25 and 18-carat gold gained AED0.75 to AED275.25.Globally, spot gold rose 0.77 percent to $3,002.64 per ounce, as of 10:32 GMT. Bullion is now on track for a second consecutive…

Etihad-SAT will be launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at 10:39 AM UAE timeThe Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) announced today that its first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, Etihad-SAT, is scheduled for launch tomorrow, March 15, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.Etihad-SAT will be launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at 10:39 AM UAE time. The center noted that the launch date and timing may be subject to change based on weather and operational conditions.“The launch of Etihad-SAT reflects the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its capabilities in the space sector by adopting the latest advancements…

China and Laos are moo-ving toward more sustainable cattle farming with a crossbreeding agreement that marks the first export of China’s coveted Huaxi cattle that are specifically grown to mature rapidly and produce high-quality meat.The agreement focuses on crossbreeding local Lao cattle with high-quality breeds from China, utilising advanced breeding techniques to improve growth rates and body size, meat quality for market demands, adaptability to the local environment, and economic benefits for farmers, the Lao News Agency reported on Thursday, citing a memorandum of agreement signed by both sides on Tuesday.“As one project in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the…

The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesNikada | E+ | Getty ImagesThe global trade war triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump shows no sign of abating, with tit-for-tat tariffs hammering major economies, tanking stock markets and dimming growth prospects.The economies concerned – North America, the European Union, and China – face highly uncertain futures. But for the Middle East, which has so far been spared of additional levies, there are still reasons to worry – as well as opportunities to take advantage of.Direct impact from tariffs, like the U.S. levies on steel and aluminum imports, have just a…

Doha recorded 95 deals worth QAR16.4 billion, the highest transaction value in 5 yearsQatar’s real estate market ended 2024 with a strong performance in key segments. The market witnessed 330 mortgage transactions across all asset classes of ready properties, a quarterly increase of 32 percent and an annual increase of 26 percent. The total value of mortgage transactions reached QAR25.2 billion ($6.91 billion) during the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting a notable annual surge of 172.3 percent.The latest report by Valustrat revealed that Doha recorded 95 deals worth QAR16.4 billion, the highest transaction value in 5 years, while Al Rayyan…