Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has called on business sectors to share their ideas and proposals for sustainably developing the Authority’s services; keeping pace with the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme launched by the UAE Government; and boosting efficiency, quality, and flexibility, while streamlining government procedures and doing away with unnecessary requirements.

Sweden is among NATO member countries that want Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to lead the defense alliance after Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate expires in October, the Nordic country’s government said on Thursday. “Mark Rutte is a wise leader with solid experience,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement, Reuters reported. “In a time characterized by increased uncertainty and a deteriorating security policy situation, a strong NATO is needed, which through deterrence and defense contributes to the security of all allies, and to promoting peace and freedom.” Source: Tasnim

Spot gold was up 0.1% at $2,300.53 per ounce Gold surged to a record high on Thursday, as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell underlined that recent job gains and higher-than-expected inflation readings do not significantly alter the overall picture of the central bank’s monetary strategy. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was up 0.1% at $2,300.53 per ounce, as of 0055 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,302.29 earlier in the session. Bullion has hit record highs consecutively since last Thursday. * U.S. gold futures edged 0.2% higher to $2,320.50 per ounce. * Powell said that “if the economy evolves broadly…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts from Greece, Finland, South Korea, and Bulgaria on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Belgium. According to diplomatic sources, Fidan met with Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Yerapetritis to discuss bilateral and regional issues. Among the topics discussed were preparations for Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ upcoming visit to Türkiye. Latest situation in war-torn Gaza In another meeting, Fidan exchanged views on counter-terrorism and security cooperation with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. They also discussed the implementation of the Türkiye-Finland-Sweden Trilateral…

NEW YORK/LONDON – Global shares and bond yields meandered on Wednesday after data showed U.S. services industry growth eased further in March, suggesting inflation is slowing, but not enough for the Federal Reserve to say when interest rate cuts can begin.

Russia has been put in a position when it is forced to protect its people, its future and its sovereignty in a weaponized way, President Vladimir Putin said at the 12th congress of the Russian Federation of Independent Trade Unions. “Everyone understands in what conditions we live. We have been put in a position when the country is forced to protect its interests in a weaponized way, its people, its future, its sovereignty,” he said. Masterminds behind the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow above all wanted to damage Russia’s unity, Putin added. “We have…

SINGAPORE – The dollar was pinned beneath recent peaks on Thursday with traders taking remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as reassuring on the likelihood of interest rate cuts this year while waiting for the latest U.S. labour market readout.

Venezuela has said the United States is setting up “secret” bases in the disputed Essequibo region. “We have information proving that in the territory of Guyana Essequibo, temporarily administered by Guyana, secret military bases of the (US) Southern Command… a body of the CIA, have been installed,” Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said. Essequibo is an oil-rich region located between Guyana and Venezuela, disputed between the two countries. Maduro said the US bases were being set up to prepare for an escalation against Venezuela, describing the move as a direct aggression against the people of the southern and eastern part of the…

Issues were also reported on Apple’s fitness service Apple Fitness+, as well as Arcade, Audiobooks, Books and Podcasts, according to Apple’s system status pages for several countries reviewed by Reuters

Gold prices posted their fifth straight record peak on Thursday as Federal Reserve officials reiterated expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024, even if their timing was unclear, while traders await key U.S. jobs data.