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Global Innovation Index: India enters top 40 for the first time

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  Geneva:  India has made remarkable progress in the global innovation index ranking finding a place in the top 40 for the first time, according to the annual report released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on Thursday. "India is the innovation leader in the lower middle-income group. It continues to lead the world in ICT services exports and holds top rankings in other indicators, including venture capital receipt value, finance for startups and scaleups, graduates in science and engineering, labor productivity growth and domestic industry diversification," WIPO said in the report. Switzerland, the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are the world's most-innovative economies. Finance News Oman Emerging economies are showing consistently strong performance, including India and Turkiye, both of which enter the top 40 for the first time. In the Global Innovation Index 2022, India jumped to the 40th position while Turkiye is p

US Senate approves $12.3bn aid for Ukraine in war against Russia

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Washington:  US Senate on Thursday approved emergency aid of $12.3 billion to Ukraine in its war against Russia. The measure will not only continue government spending for several weeks but will also help Ukraine in war to a greater extent. According to the New York Times, the US Senate on Thursday approved a temporary spending package to keep the government funded past a Friday deadline. Under the legislation, the measure would provide about USD 12.3 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine which includes USD 3 billion for supplies and arms for Ukraine's military. Finance News Oman It also provides USD 4.5 billion for Kyiv to keep the country's finances stable and keep the government running in order to provide basic services to the people of the war-torn country. The aid for Ukraine comes straight after Congress approved approximately USD 54 billion in two previous packages. On August 19, the US Defence Department announced that it would provide a new USD 775 million in additiona

Citizen honoured for saving 2 children from drowning in Oman

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  Muscat:  Brig Salim bin Yahya Al-Hinai, Director General of Civil Defense, honoured the citizen Moayad bin Said bin Mahad Al-Maashani, for his ability to save two children from drowning in Muscat Governorate. A statement issued online by Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA), said: "Brig Salim bin Yahya Al-Hinai, Director General of Civil Defense, honoured the citizen Moayad bin Said bin Mahad Al-Maashani, for his ability to save two children from drowning at Al-Azaiba Beach in the Governorate of Muscat." Oman News24 "The Brig praised his good behavior in saving the two children in the right way. stressing the importance of providing assistance without endangering lives. Explaining the importance of restricting all community members to swimming in designated places and observing children while they go out for walks," the statement added.

UK 'working intensly' with India for FTAs: UK Foreign Secretary

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  London:  UK is "working intensely" with India to achieve the Free Trade Agreements soon, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. This comes after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said the UK is keen to stick to the Diwali deadline for free trade agreements. "We have signed Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand - and we are working intensely to agree one with India soon", the foreign secretary Cleverly said. Finance News Oman In a keynote speech at the 9th Annual Milken Asia Summit, while setting out the UK's continued commitment in the Indo-Pacific region, the UK foreign secretary noted, "We were the first European country to secure a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. And we intend to be the first European country to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It will give the region access to the UK's world-class financial services sector as well as, as well as the world&

Hurricane Ian pummels US state of Florida, put millions in dark

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  Florida:  Following a landfall on Wednesday, Hurricane Ian has caused severe destruction across the US State of Florida, leaving more than 2.5 million homes and businesses without power, media reports said. Quoting the local authorities, Al Jazeera reported that a 72-year-old man who fell into a canal in the city of Deltona has died as a result of the storm whereas rescuers have been looking for missing persons. During a speech on Thursday, US President Joe Biden said, "This could be the deadliest Hurricane in Florida's history; the numbers are still unclear but we're hearing early reports of what may be a substantial loss of life." Finance News Oman Taking to Twitter, Biden wrote, "My message to the people of Florida is that at times like these, America comes together. We put aside our differences and pull together as one team. One America." "However long it takes, the U.S. Government will be there," he tweeted. On Wednesday, Twenty-three people

Young Omani entrepreneur’s turban venture wins praise

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  Salalah:  Omamaty (my turban), a project for ready made turbans, is one of the small and medium  enterprise sectors' successful projects in the Wilayat of Salalah that has received appreciation and prizes at the Sultanate’s level. Young entrepreneur, Hamad bin Ahmed Suwailm, owner of Rawabi Al Khaleej Establishment    (Omamaty),  said that he started his project in 2015 by designing a ready made Omani turban for all age categories, which is produced in different colours and textile. Finance News Oman He said that the idea behind the project has turned into a well-planned work and from there into the production stage, thanks to the support of the Authority  for SMEs Development (former Al Raffd Fund). The success of the project has encouraged me to open three branches at the Sultanate’s level, he said, adding, he registered ‘Omamaty’ as a trademark , intellectual property and industrial innovation certificate with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.   He a

Indian rupee falls to a new low, OMR1 touches INR209

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  New Delhi : T he Indian currency rupee breached the psychologically crucial 80-mark again today  to touch another fresh all-time of 80.44 against the US dollar. According to the online currency converter Xe, OMR1 was fetching approximately INR209  bringing smiles back on the faces of Indian expats. Many Indians rushed to  exchanges  houses to remit their savings back home. Oman News24 The Indian currency had closed at 79.97  previous day. This sharp depreciation was because of the current strength in the US dollar Index.   Indian stocks declined, though marginally, on Thursday morning in line with weak global cues, following yet another policy rates hike by the US Federal Reserve in its fight against high inflation. However, a steep decline was likely cushioned as investors seemed to have already discounted the possible rate hikes by the US central bank. At 9.33 am, Sensex traded at 59,303.96 points, down 152.82 points or 0.26 per cent, whereas Nifty traded at 17,671.95 points, down