News U Wish to Read – 17 July 2017
Monday, 17th July 2017
Energy/Business
Power systems based on 100% renewables is nor feasible or realistic
The National
The Sweihan solar power project in Abu Dhabi will be the world’s largest on a single site, with a capacity of almost 1.2 gigawatts. Costing about US$1.2 billion, it will cover an area four times the size of Downtown Dubai. Now imagine building almost three hundred such plants in the UAE alone. This huge effort is one part of the sketches by the Stanford professor Mark Jacobson and his colleagues on how by 2050, the United States and the entire world could power itself solely with renewable energy – wind, sun and water (hydropower from rivers and tidal power from the sea). His team argues this is not just feasible and environmentally sustainable but, in fact, cheaper than our current system. And it has raised a strange controversy in the US – a controversy in which politics and public relations battle with engineering and logic.
Published: 17th July 2017
Adnoc, Borealis to expand joint petrochemical activities
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) announced on Sunday it has signed a framework agreement with Borealis to advance two key projects that will expand their joint petrochemical activities in Ruwais. In a statement, Adnoc said the agreement was part of the company’s aim to expand petrochemical from the current 4.5 tonnes per annum to 11.4 million tonnes a year by 2025. It did not, however, dislose the value of the deal.
Published: 16th July 2017
Emirates, flydubai to fly in tandem, but it’s not a merger
Khaleej Times
Emirates Airline and flydubai have announced a extensive partnership which will see the two Dubai-based carriers come together to align their systems and provide passengers access with easy connectivity to each other’s networks and ensure a smooth travel experience. Apart from code-sharing, the partnership includes integrated network collaboration with coordinated scheduling, allowing flydubai customers to take advantage of Emirates worldwide destinations across six continents. Emirates’ customers, for their part, will now have access to flydubai’s regional network.
Published: 17th July 2017
Politics & Economy
Sheikh Mohammed meets French foreign minister amid Qatar dispute
The National
Jean-Yves Le Drian earlier held talks with officials in both Doha and Jeddah in an effort to heal the rift between Qatar and its neighbours. Sheikh Mohammed and Mr Le Drian discussed regional and international issues along with enhancing cooperation when they met at Al Shati Palace.
Published: 17th July 2017
UAE economy to ride on non-oil sector and infrastructure spending
The National
Despite bearish sentiments, the IMF and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, concur that medium term non-oil growth will reach 3 per cent or higher, thanks to investments in the lead-up to Expo 2020. The UAE’s economy will expand on the back of non-oil sector growth over the next 18 months, as Abu Dhabi loosens its purse strings and Expo 2020-related spending in Dubai start to kick in, according to economists. That estimation comes after the IMF on Friday cut its outlook for the country’s economy due to the continued pressure on oil prices, which is down 14 per cent year-to-date, despite a global oil output cut, in which the UAE is participating, that has so far failed to reduce inventories and prop up prices. Besides the anticipated spike in Expo 2020 spending, Abu Dhabi is expected to reduce its austerity drive, increase spending and revisit projects that have been postponed.
Published: 17th July 2017
Community, Environment & Society
Abu Dhabi named second best city to live and work in
The National
Abu Dhabi has been named the second-best city to live, work and do business in, overtaking both London and Paris. The capital moved up two places since the last Ipsos City Index. New York retained the top spot. More than 18,000 people, aged between 16 and 64, in 26 countries worldwide were interviewed for the Index. Rome, Amsterdam and Zurich were also in the top ten. Abu Dhabi was fourth in 2013, when the last survey was carried out.
Published: 16th July 2017
Read more: https://www.thenational.ae/uae/abu-dhabi-named-second-best-city-to-live-and-work-in-1.609267
Umbrellas, anyone? DM asks pedestrians in Dubai
Gulf News
In a new initiative announced on Sunday, Dubai Municipality started giving out umbrellas to the public to protect them from the summer heat. Khalid Mohammed Badri, Director of Corporate Marketing and Relations Department said in a press release that the municipality distributed more than 1,000 umbrellas on the first day of the campaign.
Published: 16th July 2017.
Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/umbrellas-anyone-dm-asks-pedestrians-in-dubai-1.2059938
Emirati couples to get free fertility treatment in Dubai
Khaleej Times
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2017 on the Amal Initiative that provides fertility treatment free of cost to Emirati couples at Dubai Health Authority’s, DHA, Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre. According to the Resolution, in order to benefit from the Amal Initiative, couples should have been married for at least a year; should not have any medical insurance that covers fertility treatment; must sign an undertaking that confirms the accuracy of the information submitted to the Amal Initiative; the wife must be included in the husband’s Family Book; and Citizenship Decrees must be valid on the date of application.
Published: 16th July 2017
Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/uae-health/emirati-couples-to-get-free-fertility-treatment-in-dubai
Sports
Federer wins 8th Wimbledon title, beating Cilic in final
Khaleej Times
Roger Federer’s wait for No. 8 at Wimbledon is over. He is once again the champion of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, now more often than any other man in the history of an event first held in 1877. Federer won his eighth title at the All England Club and 19th major trophy overall, capping a marvelous fortnight in which he never dropped a set by overwhelming Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday in a lopsided final that was more coronation than contest.
Published: 16th July 2017
Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/tennis/roger-federer-wins-record-eighth-wimbledon-title
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