Before the discovery of oil transformed the Gulf into one of the world's wealthiest regions, the fortunes of its people depended on pearling -- a tradition that Abdullah al-Suwaidi hopes to revive.

Asian markets fell on Friday as investors wound down for the end of the month, while awaiting news of progress on China-US trade talks but with optimism tainted by the row over Hong Kong.

South Korean appliance giant LG Electronics replaced its CEO and a raft of other top leaders Thursday after net profits slumped more than 30 percent in the third quarter and its smartphone division struggles.

Germany's economy ministry on Thursday said it planned to tighten rules on non-EU takeovers of hi-tech firms, against a backdrop of growing alarm about Chinese firms buying up German know-how.

German inflation remained stuck at the low level of 1.1 percent in November, preliminary data showed Thursday, despite fresh stimulus from the European Central Bank to stoke price growth.

Stock markets mostly fell Thursday as China-US trade talks took a jolt from a US law backing Hong Kong protests that has angered Beijing.

The fuselage of one of Boeing's new 777X aircraft completely ruptured in pressure tests in September, a previously unreported major setback that could delay the arrival of the long-haul jet to global skies, AFP has learned from informed sources. 

An outright tax on wealth may seem out of style but two Democrats vying for the presidency in 2020, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, say the United States should adopt one.

Top US and Chinese negotiators held phone talks on Tuesday and agreed to keep in touch over "remaining issues" for a "phase one" trade deal between the two countries, Chinese state media said.

US President Donald Trump had announced last month that the two sides had reached an initial agreement, but the deal is yet to be finalised.

Emirates Airline, the Middle East's biggest carrier, on Wednesday slimmed down its purchasing plans with Boeing, shortly after cutting orders with Airbus as tough conditions force a review of its fleet and ambitions.