#US

Oil falls below $48 with virus mutation raising lockdown risks

The mutation comes as vaccines are being rolled out in several countries and as the US closes in on a stimulus plan

Pfizer vaccine

UK clears Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine ahead of US, EU

The UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, said the vaccine “met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness”

G-20

Leaders at the Saudi-hosted G20 summit to pledge to ensure fair distribution of vaccines

The battle to counter the pandemic dominated the first day of a virtual summit of G20 nations on Saturday

Moderna Covid vaccine

Moderna’s Covid vaccine found 94.5% effective in early analysis

A first analysis of data from more than 30,000 volunteers showed Moderna’s vaccine prevented virtually all symptomatic cases of Covid-19

Bahrain’s Investcorp sells eight US properties for over $900m

The properties were garden and townhome-style apartment buildings located in major metropolitan areas

Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden Addresses The Nation As Election Count Continues In Few Key States

Biden predicts victory as lead over Trump grows in key states

On Friday, the Democratic nominee overtook Trump to claim a slim advantage in Pennsylvania, where a victory would push him past the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency

Amazon to let employees work from home through June 2021

The Seattle-based company had previously said workers could stay home until early 2021

Bahrain, Israel sign historic joint communique to establish diplomatic relations

Bahrain became the second Gulf nation to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel

Israel’s cabinet approves UAE pact as leaders plan meeting

No date or venue was given for the leaders’ meeting

Bahrain

Bahrain launches 10-year multiple-entry visa for US citizens

The visa allows for a stay of up to 90 days during each visit to the kingdom

KUWAIT-HEALTH-VIRUS-ECONOMY

Kuwait Central Bank denies plan to devalue, stands by peg

Kuwait is the only country in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council that links its currency to a basket dominated by the US dollar, while the others are linked solely to the greenback

US Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai: UAE contributes $60m for US pavilion construction

The construction of the pavilion is expected to be completed by November

UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed arrives in the US to sign peace accord with Israel

The signing ceremony is set to take place on Tuesday

TikTok

Oracle wins deal for TikTok’s US operations

A deal between ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, and Oracle will look more like a corporate restructuring than an outright sale, sources said

Israel sees $6.5bn in trade as UAE peace talks kick off

On August 13, the countries announced their plan to normalise ties, a first between Israel and a Gulf Arab nation

Israel’s flagship carrier El Al set for unprecedented UAE flight

An Etihad Airways cargo plane from Abu Dhabi made the first known commercial flight between the countries in May with a humanitarian shipment for the Palestinians

Emirates Skywards introduces over 1,500 additional ways to earn Miles

For every GBP1 spent, members can earn up to 15 Miles; and for every $1 spent, members can earn up to 12 Miles

UAE Hope Probe

UAE’s launch kicks off a trio of Mars missions as planet draws close

The UAE launched its mission on Sunday, with the US and China to follow later this month and next

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Kuwaiti Emir to travel to US to continue medical treatment

The 91-year-old emir had a “successful surgery” in Kuwait earlier this week

Air Products plans $5bn green fuel plant in Saudi Arabia

The project will be located at Neom on the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi City United Arab Emirates

UAE’s Taqa to offer more shares in asset-transfer deal

Taqa has 23 gigawatts of power-generation capacity globally, with assets in Canada, Ghana, India, Iraq, the US and several other countries

Japan’s SMBC Nikko to open branches in Paris, Abu Dhabi

SMBC Nikko’s overseas operations earned $143m before taxes in the year ended March

Oil extends drop with virus milestones spurring demand angst

A surge in cases across the southern and western US is causing states to reinstate measures, threatening the outlook for oil demand

Oil falls again with virus resurgence casting doubt on demand

US gasoline futures tumbled the most in two months amid fears that lockdowns may need to be re-imposed

UAE ranks 19th in FDI confidence index backed by strong investor sentiment

China, Brazil and the UAE were the only three emerging economies that ranked on the index

Oil holds near $42 while investors weigh demand against virus

Brent futures for August settlement gained 3 cents to $42.22 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange as of 12.03pm in Singapore

Saudi oil exports to US plunge to lowest level in 35 years

The kingdom has exported just one cargo to the US so far in June, equivalent to about 133,000 barrels a day

Second wave virus concerns loom large over crude oil market

While oil has rebounded rapidly since April as OPEC+ production cuts kicked in and US output fell, the rally fizzled last week

Oil falls for a third day with second-wave virus risks in focus

Futures in New York fell below $35 a barrel after losing 8.3 per cent last week

No acquisition by US-based bank, clarifies Dubai lender Emirates NBD

The bank stated that 101,731,408 of its shares were purchased by 254 unique investors on May 28