Author: Arabian Media staff

The region’s economies include some of the biggest polluters but there is also progress on renewable energy. This annual FT-Statista survey lists the companies that have cut their carbon emissions intensity the most and explores developments in transition policy, solar and nuclear power Source link

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This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get the newsletter delivered every weekday morning. Explore all of our newsletters hereGood morning and welcome back to FirstFT Asia. On today’s agenda: China reroutes exports via south-east AsiaTony Blair’s staff participated in ‘Gaza Riviera’ projectHow doing business in Hong Kong is changingWe start with new data suggesting that Chinese businesses are sending increasing volumes of goods to the US via south-east Asia in a bid to evade Donald Trump’s tariffs. Here’s what to know. What the data…

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Image: Getty Images Kuwait has officially launched a new electronic visa (e-visa) system, aimed at simplifying and accelerating entry procedures for travelers, residents, and official visitors, as part of its broader digital transformation and tourism strategy. The newly implemented platform, managed by the Ministry of Interior, supports four visa categories — tourist, family, business, and official — and is expected to reduce processing times and eliminate administrative hurdles. The tourist visa allows a stay of up to 90 days and is designed for individuals wishing to explore Kuwait’s cultural and leisure offerings. The family visa, valid for 30 days, enables…

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Chinese businesses are sending increasing volumes of goods to the US via south-east Asia in a bid to evade the tariff wall erected by Donald Trump as part of his trade war, data suggests.The value of Chinese exports to the US dropped by 43 per cent year on year in May, according to figures published by the US census bureau — equivalent to $15bn-worth of goods.But the country’s overall exports rose by 4.8 per cent in the same period, official Chinese data…

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“Dollar weaponization” refers to the expanding use of America’s currency dominance—trade settlement, access to the Federal Reserve’s clearing system, SWIFT messaging, and New York–jurisdiction settlement—to coerce foreign actors through sanctions, asset freezes, and trade restrictions. The 2022 freeze of roughly $300 billion in Russian reserves marked a watershed: For the first time, a G-20 member’s sovereign assets were blocked outright, signaling that no holder is too big to sanction. Since then, Washington has doubled down: the budget for the 2025 fiscal year requests a record $231 million for the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to expand sanctions enforcement.…

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The crew of a Greek-owned cargo ship was forced to abandon the vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday after the first suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthis this year on a commercial vessel.If confirmed as the work of the Houthis, the attack on the Magic Seas, a dry bulk carrier owned by Greece’s Stem Shipping, would be the first on a commercial vessel since December by the group, which is backed by Iran.Michael Bodouroglou, Stem Shipping’s chief executive, told the Financial Times…

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The 401(k) plan was never meant to become the backbone of U.S. retirement security. When it emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was pitched as a tax-deferred perk for executives and other white-collar workers. But four decades on, 401(k)s dominate private-sector retirement savings offerings, covering two-thirds of workers with access to a plan and holding $9 trillion in assets. Yet their benefits still tilt upward: Higher-income employees, who naturally rely less on their complete paycheck to get through the month—contribute at higher rates and therefore capture larger employer matches. Today, the median 401(k) balance for top-decile earners…

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This article is an on-site version of our The Week Ahead newsletter. Subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every Sunday. Explore all of our newsletters hereHello and welcome to the working week.Anyone for taco? As all of you fans of the Unhedged newsletter will know, my colleague Rob Armstrong’s delightful acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out has caused quite a stir in Washington and Wall Street. The July 9 deadline set by Donald Trump to introduce his reciprocal tariffs is almost upon us. Will the US president blink?Word is that White House officials are seeking to…

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Image: Supplied The board of ENOC Group, the Dubai government-owned energy conglomerate, has appointed Hussain Sultan Ahmed Lootah as acting CEO, the company said in a statement last week. Lootah succeeds Saif Humaid Al Falasi, who served as group CEO for the past decade, overseeing ENOC’s expansion and strategic growth initiatives. “The appointment aligns with the group’s commitment to drive the future of energy and support Dubai’s ambitious plans of economic diversification and sustainable development,” ENOC said. Lootah brings over three decades of experience to his new role at ENOC Lootah, who brings over 30 years of leadership experience in…

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