Martian moon Deimos in high-res for 1st time! UAE Hope probe observations - planetary science

Merger of Middle East Banking Powerhouses

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi is set on merging with FGB (First Gulf Bank) to create a 175 billion dollar institution.It will be the biggest bank in the Middle East and North Africa.The combined bank will be larger than Germany's Deutsche Bank.*
Both banks are substantial holdings of the royal families of the UAE.The deal is the first big merger since Abu Dhabi made an effort to diversify away from oil and its declining value.The merger,involving a share swap,could result in a cost savings of about 30%.The mammoth transaction,resulting in the most sizeable lender in the Middle East,could spur more financial mergers and acquisitions in the region.*
Wisdom Tree Middle East Dividend Fund (GULF)

Asia This Day:Qantas and Emirates Join Forces;Japanese Hiring Up

Japan's Tankan business confidence survey was up less than expected,from -12 in February to -8 in March,although it was the best quarterly improvement in two years.At the same time,China also reported a slight miss in estimates as the Purchasing Managers Index rose to 50.9 in March from 50.1 in February.HSBC's China PMI reading rose to 51.6 from 50.4,a little stronger improvement than the government's version.
Asian markets were lower on the mildly disappointing data,with the MSCI Asia-Pacific index falling 0.74% in early Monday trading.Markets in Hong Kong,Australia and New Zealand remain closed till Tuesday for the Easter holiday.
Chinese authorities told Beijing and Shanghai to place new restrictions on home buying in an attempt to limit skyrocketing prices.Homeowners were not to be granted credit to buy second or third homes.
Australia's airline Qantas and the UAE's Emirates Air have inaugurated their new alliance with a symbolic first flight .It will now be possible for Qantas passengers to fly to 65 international destinations from Melbourne and Sydney with one connecting flight in Dubai,as opposed to only five destinations in a previous alliance with British Airways.This will shave two hours off of flights to Europe.
Bookings to Europe are up six-fold on the new routes,which Goldman Sachs believes will be worth about Australian 90 million dollars to Qantas-or US 94 million.Qantas has cut its deficit from A262 million to A91 million in the first half of the fiscal year on retiring old planes and cutting unprofitable routes.CEO Alan Joyce has pledged to return the carrier to profitability.
For the first time in three years,Japan Airlines graduated about a thousand new hires in a JAL hangar in Tokyo.The workers stood stock-still in formation at the ceremony Monday.
Nomura Securities has hired the most new graduates in four years on the strength of the banking industry.

Kerry Gathers His Thoughts Before First Overseas Trip

Our lives as Americans are more entwined than ever before with the lives of those in other countries we may never have visited.My friends,no politicians can put this genie back in the bottle,said new Secretary of State John Kerry at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on the eve of his first overseas trip,to Europe and the Middle East.Our citizens deserve a strong foreign policy to protect our place in the world.
This is a time to continue to engage for the sake of our safety and economy-95% of the world's customers live outside our own country.These investments in foreign engagement are paying for themselves.Indonesia is placing the largest order for aircraft that Boeing has ever filled.China is out second largest trading partner.Eleven of our fifteen largest trading partners used to be beneficiaries of US foreign assistance.
We are a country without any permanent enemies.Senator John McCain and I worked for 10 years to bring about relations with Vietnam.Our trade with Vietnam has increased more than 700% since then.
Our foreign service personnel screen for potential security threats on far shores before they can reach the homeland.A transatlantic partnership will match the scope and ambition of our transpacific partnership talks.
Jobs and trade are not the whole story;nor should they be.Failed states are among our greatest security threats.Deploying diplomats today is much cheaper than deploying troops tomorrow.It's national security insurance that we're buying,as Senator Lindsey Graham said.Diplomats fight corruption overseas and support the rule of law.All of that danger and risk that they take makes us more secure.
Countries are more secure and prosperous when women and girls are afforded more opportunities.Today more than a quarter of the Afghan parliament is women.
Foreign assistance is an investment in a stronger America.For the first time in history,young people around the world act as a global cohort.We need to help them and us use this remarkable network in a positive way.There is no pause button on the future.Responding is the American thing to do.
The greatest challenge is not in the hands of diplomats,but of Congress.We can't be strong in the world if we are not strong at home.My credibility as a diplomat is strongest when America puts its own fiscal house in order-and that has to be now.Let's not lose this opportunity because of politics.
After World War II,we didn't spike the football;we created a more level playing field,and we are stronger for it today.Now we face a similar crossroads as new markets bloom in every part of the world.Our sense of responsibility has to be exercised.What happens over there matters right here,and it matters that we get this right,Secretary of State John Kerry concluded before departing for the UK,Germany,France,Italy,Turkey,Egypt,the UAE,Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend.

Federal Rules Impel SAIC To Split Itself Up

Federal conflict of interest rules are forcing SAIC,the former Science Applications International Corporation,to divide into two separate companies.The rules make it harder for a company that combines services and solutions functions as SAIC does to compete for contracts.Under the leadership of new CEO General John P. Jumper,US Air Force retired,the IT-oriented research group will spin off its 4 billion dollar a year services business from the larger 7 billion a year solutions business.
The services business will provide systems engineering and technical assistance,plus financial analysis and program office support.The solutions business will offer science and technology for national security,engineering and health projects such as communications,intelligence,logistics and electronic warfare initiatives.
SAIC was founded by a small group of scientists led by physicist J. Robert Beyster,PhD in 1969.The FORTUNE 500 company addresses complex and critical technology-related needs such as cancer research at its SAIC-Frederick subsidiary in Maryland.SAIC-Frederick develops and applies advanced technologies to translational research,accelerating the delivery of new cancer and AIDS treatments.The activity supports the National Institutes of Health's Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research,employing nanotechnology,genomics and biomedical imagery in both basic and applied research.
SAIC employs about 40,000 people at locations from Virginia to Saudi Arabia,Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
SAIC,Inc(SAI)

Dubai Skyscraper Construction Stopped

Nakheel,a state-owned developer in the United Arab Emirates,has halted construction on a tower that is slated to become the world's tallest.The Dubai project is feeling the weight of the financial crisis,and is suspended for a year.A decline in real estate prices is pressuring banks in the U.A.E.,and the cratering of oil revenue is crimping business activity across the Middle East.So far,the building has reached more than 160 stories,and a height of 2559 feet,or 779.98 meters.Nakheel declines to reveal the skyscraper's ultimate height,which is a point of pride for Dubai,the U.A.E. financial centre.

Dubai Invests in Canada

Two Dubai enterprises have bought a 20% stake in Canada's Cirque du Soleil.Cirque founder Guy Laliberte will retain control over the circus,which is based in Montreal.The terms of the deal were not disclosed.The state-owned enterprises,Nakheel PJSC and Istithmar World Capital PJSC,are units of the Dubai World holding company.Nakheel is a property developer,and Istithmar is an investment enterprise.Dubai is one of the United Arab Emirates.

Shop Talk

I advertised in the United Arab Emirates this week.I extend a special greeting to you,Arab friends and allies.Your country becomes more important in the business world every year.It's great to host you today.I would also like to remember Michael Metz of Oppenheimer,who died yesterday.A distinguished analyst,Mr.Metz was a frequent guest on business television.He began his career in 1959,but remained active through old age.We shall miss him very much.

Domestic Weakness,Global Strength

The global infrastructure growth continues,GE CEO Jeff Immelt believes.There are tough times ahead vis-a-vis the U.S. consumer.Housing has to stabilize in order to feel like we have a consumer that wants to buy again.We don't see a slowdown in the global economy.These environments continue to be robust.We see in Mubadala a company like ourselves,the spirit of learning that still exists,Jeff Immelt explained.

The Full Power of GE

We shouldn't overdo partnerships,GE CEO Jeff Immelt continued,but when we do them,we put the full power of the company behind them.We are attractive to the best of the best because we have this unique structure as a country and a company.We want to bet on a multitude of energy technologies.Renewables have to be in the lead.We're investing that way.Abu Dhabi is building a renewable energy enterprise,thinking 10-20 years ahead.I agree with almost everything Boone Pickens says,Mr.Immelt added.Khaldoon al Mubarak,CEO of Mubadala,said that his firm is a GE in the making.This is a wonderful start today.

Capitalizing on Strength

The alliance of GE and The Mubadala Company gives GE more capacity for its great originators,says GE CEO Jeff Immelt.The intention is for a full-fledged joint venture.This allows us to strengthen the company where it is already strong.The deal gives us a better opportunity to minimize risk and maximize return.The joint venture capitalizes on the strengths of both companies,Mr.Immelt observed.

Inside the Deal:GE and Abu Dhabi

General Electric(GE) and The Mubadala Company,a state-owned enterprise of Abu Dhabi,have formed an eight billion dollar U.S. partnership.The companies will cooperate in commercial finance,research on clean energy and water,and expanding aircraft engine service and repair in the Middle East.They already have a strong partnership.Their aim is high growth opportunities in the Middle East and worldwide,making shared capital commitments to new joint ventures and investment funds.