Business

MUSCAT, Oman, Sept 5 (NNN-ONA) – Labour and Social Affairs and Development Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), agreed on the recruitment of labour from non-GCC countries and empowering the different able groups.

The fifth meeting of the GCC social affairs ministers, hosted in the Omani capital Muscat, discussed a host of issues of common concern, a statement by the Omani Manpower Ministry said.

VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), Sept 5 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Dr Mahathir and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Summit (EES) where both leaders discussed efforts to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

During the 30-minute discussion in the port city overlooking Golden Horn Bay, near the borders with China and North Korea, they also spoke about trade and innovation.

Mahathir and Putin previously met on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit held in Singapore last year.

4 Sep 2019; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled his trip to India, which was slated to take place next week ahead of Israel’s upcoming general election on 17 September.

Netanyahu had been due to visit his “close friend” and political ally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the Indian capital New Delhi for a one-day trip on Monday. The pair were slated to discuss bilateral ties including trade and defence industry deals.

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Iran will free seven crew members of the detained British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday, although the vessel’s owner said it had yet to receive any official confirmation of the release date.

The Swedish-owned Stena Impero was detained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on July 19 in the Strait of Hormuz waterway for alleged marine violations, two weeks after Britain detained an Iranian tanker off the territory of Gibraltar. That vessel was released in August.

Lucknow, Sep 3 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission on Tuesday approved up to 12 per cent hike in power tariff for various categories of power consumers to make up for increased expenditure of state distribution utilities.

The commission, however, also abolished the regulatory surcharge of 4.8 per cent for state discoms, giving relief to customers from a sharp increase.

The new tariffs will come into effect from the date to be notified by the government, an official release said.

Attari (Amritsar), Sep 4 (PTI) The third round of meeting between delegates of India and Pakistan to discuss and finalise the draft agreement for the operationalistaion of the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims was underway here on Wednesday, officials said.

A 20-member Pakistani delegation crossed over to India for the joint secretary-level meeting at Attari in Amritsar, they said.

GENEVA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Leaving the European Union without a trade deal would cost Britain at least US$16 billion in lost exports, and would probably cost far more after indirect effects are taken into account, a report by the UN trade agency UNCTAD said.

“UNCTAD’s research indicates that a no-deal Brexit will result in UK export losses of at least US$16 billion, representing an approximate 7 per cent loss of overall UK exports to the EU,” it said.

KIELCE (Poland), Sept 4 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The 27th edition of the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2019), Europe’s third-largest exhibition of its kind, opened here Tuesday.

Featuring the latest of helicopters, armoured equipment and rockets, aviation equipment, air defence systems, medical equipment as well as cutting-edge communication technologies, the four-day event is being held at the Targi Kielce Exhibition and Congress Centre here.

The expo known by its Polish acronym, MSPO, is also Poland’s premier defence show.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, will make a three-day official visit to Russia, for the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2019), in Russia’s Vladivostok, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said today (Wednesday).

Mahathir will be in the country between Wednesday and Friday, accompanied by several members of his cabinet, the ministry said in a statement.

SANTIAGO, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a 5 billion U.S.-dollar investment plan to renovate and expand the country’s railway network.

“Trains are not just going to be part of the daily life of Chileans as passengers, but also part of our country’s economic life,” said Pinera.

“We are making a great effort so the railways will not only improve the quality of life of our compatriots, but also make a great contribution to the development of our country,” Pinera added.