UAE Non-Oil Business Activity Surges to Nine-Month High in December

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 The United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector recorded its fastest expansion in nine months in December 2024, buoyed by strong domestic demand and increased business activity, according to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report. PMI Highlights Robust Growth The seasonally adjusted UAE PMI climbed to 55.4 in December from 54.2 in November, signaling robust growth well above the 50.0 threshold that separates expansion from contraction. This marked the third consecutive monthly increase, underscoring sustained recovery in the non-oil sector. Key drivers of growth included a notable rise in new business activity. The new orders subindex rose sharply to 59.3 in December from 58.0 in the previous month, reflecting strong domestic demand. Challenges Amid the Growth While domestic demand flourished, export growth slowed, with the export orders subindex dropping to a seven-month low. Additionally, businesses faced mounting backlogs due to capacity constraints,...

Ukraine war hinders polio vaccine efforts

 

Ukraine

 Mr Gates said vital financial aid spent on fighting diseases such as polio was now being diverted to defence budgets, rebuilding war-torn areas and helping refugees.

“After the Ukraine war started, we have had some donors cut their aid. This will be tough until that war is over," he said.

The war in Yemen, instability and social resistance in Afghanistan and Pakistan were also setbacks to vaccination campaigns, he said.

“You have the war in Yemen," he said. "More children were paralysed in Yemen than anywhere in the world last year because of polio. And because of those war conditions, we were not able to get the vaccines into the country.

“The second biggest setback was in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two countries where we could never eradicate the disease completely, but we're very hopeful.

"But it's extra tough now as money is being diverted to other humanitarian work such as rebuilding Africa."

He said partisan polarisation in the US had also affected the fight against diseases.

Mr Gates said the coronavirus pandemic was a case in point.

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