Business Club

AMMAN — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed surprise and concern at the EU Parliament decision to adopt the proposed amendments to the Fit for 55 revision of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) that would expand the scope of the EU ETS to include all flight departures from the European Economic Area (EEA) from 2024. 

The CO2 emissions of international flights departing EU/EEA airspace are already covered under the landmark CORSIA agreement (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), while the EU ETS covers flights within the European Union, according to a statement from IATA. 

A unilateral decision by the EU to expand the scope of ETS extra-territorially to non-EU destinations will threaten the prospects for major global decarbonisation efforts:

•The adoption of a long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) for the decarbonisation of aviation by states at the 41st ICAO Assembly later this year is unlikely if Europe attempts to force third countries to adopt solutions developed for its internal market
 

•This would weaken and potentially dismantle the existing CORSIA agreement which States agreed would be the single global market-based measure applied to international aviation.


Moreover, expanding the EU ETS scope to include all flights leaving the EU would lead to serious distortion of competition and weaken the global competitive position of EU airlines and hubs, read the statement. 

“This decision by the European Parliament is disturbing because it endangers international cooperation to tackle aviation’s climate change impacts. We call on the European Council to clearly state its determination to seek a multilateral solution at ICAO’s 41st Assembly later this year, and to strongly reject the expansion of ETS voted yesterday by the Parliament. The best thing that the EU could do for aviation’s decarbonisation is work towards a global agreement for international aviation," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

"This signal by the EU Parliament that it is moving away from the CORSIA agreement will inevitably distract from the multilateral cooperation that is essential for any increased ambition for international aviation to address climate change,” Walsh added. 

IATA calls upon EU member states not to repeat the mistake on the full-scope ETS back initially proposed in 2012.

“Europe has already suffered the embarrassment of a unanimous global rejection of its misguided attempt to impose ETS extra-territorially in 2012," Walsh noted. 

He added that "the impact of any regional initiative by the EU will be quickly neutralised or worse if it derails decarbonisation efforts in faster growing markets outside of Europe. Now is the time for Europe to support CORSIA and the adoption of LTAG which will propel global decarbonisation efforts further”.

AMMAN — Aspire, the Jordan-based IT services firm with pioneering software engineering, quality assurance and network operations center supportcapabilities, has commemorated its 20th anniversary by launching a technology consulting practice. 

This was announced during an event- held under the patronage of Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh.

The event was attended by distinguished industry and business leaders; a host of Aspire team members; and local and regional media representatives, according to a statement from Aspire.

Building on two decades of delivering services for omnichannel software and product development; digital transformation (Agile, Cloud and DevOps); quality engineering and testing; infrastructure support; and bespoke software and mobile engineering, Aspire has now added digital consulting services to its offerings.  

These new services include digital strategy and enterprise architectureconsulting; tech sourcing advisory; strategic management; and emerging technology advisory in cyber security consulting, intelligent automation, data and analytics, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; among others- bringing 20 years of extensive experience within the US market to enable clients across Jordan and the region to accelerate their digital transformation journeys, said the statement.

“This occasion is one of celebration when we pause, reflect and express our heartfelt gratitude towards our clients across the globe and the hundreds of incredibly talented, motivated and dedicated Aspirers without whom these successes would not have been possible. This also signals the start of the next phase of growth for Aspire as we reinvent ourselves as a full-service technology company committed to strengthening the tech capabilities of our clients throughout Jordan, the region and the world - whatever their business challenges may be - and empowering them to shine within the digital sphere,” commented Aspire Founder and Managing Director Kaushal Shah. 

On Monday morning at M7 in Msheireb, the all-new format for arts and culture programming across Qatar was announced, with the transformation of Qatar Creates from a limited period of events into a year-round national cultural movement, for local and international audiences alike. 

Qatar Creates will now be the all-embracing vehicle that curates, promotes and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar, with an unprecedented schedule of high-profile events, exhibitions, live shows, and openings, all geared toward the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, and beyond. 

The new format Qatar Creates and overview of Qatar’s cultural offerings for autumn 2022 were announced on Monday for the first time by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums and the Doha Film Institute and co-chair of Fashion Trust Arabia.

The unprecedented autumn schedule features 17 exhibitions across five museums and five creative hubs, 10 high-profile events, three live festivals, 15 Qatar Creates lounges and over 80 public art installations across the country. 

Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “As the countdown intensifies toward the opening of the World Cup, we are delighted to share a picture of autumn 2022 in Doha, when the calendar will be overflowing with museum exhibitions, premier fashion events, spectacular music and theater experiences, and eye-opening previews of the exciting cultural future that Qatar is building today.”

In its new form Qatar Creates is a perennial cultural movement that curates, promotes, and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar. To provide residents and visitors with an unrivalled opportunity to immerse themselves and fully experience the myriad cultural, leisure and entertainment offerings across the country, Qatar Creates has launched its new One Pass, an online portal that offers a one-stop resource for all of Qatar’s cultural offerings. 

Sheikha Al Mayassa, continued: “One Pass is a gateway to arts and culture for all of our residents and visitors to access to museums, events, festivals, theatrical experiences, and cultural offerings across the country, along with benefits for dining, entertainment, adventure, and fashion. By bringing this all together with the One Pass, our hope is that everyone will have the opportunity to live it all, to experience the very best our country has to offer, turning visitors into ambassadors who will share their experiences and want to return to Qatar again and again.”

Qatar Creates is a cultural initiative that was launched by Qatar Museums (QM) in 2019 to celebrate the inauguration of the National Museum of Qatar. Qatar Creates is an annual celebration of art, fashion, design, culture and architecture through a weeklong series of community events and programmes including fashion shows, exhibitions, tours, workshops and panel discussions.

Huawei's Director of the Board and Chair of the Scientist Advisory Committee William Xu was invited to deliver an online speech titled "Industry-Academia Collaboration for Joint Innovation and Talent Cultivation" at Times Higher Education's Asia Universities Summit. 

The director, during his speech, shared the approaches and practices adopted by Huawei during its collaboration with universities on innovation, joint research, talent cultivation, and tech competitions.

"Huawei works with universities to build open and innovative platforms for joint research and talent cultivation. Through the dual drivers of vision and application research, the industry and academia work together to define 'top challenges' and conduct innovation. These efforts are aimed at resolving the problems facing the industry and making groundbreaking achievements," said Xu. 

He added that Huawei invested $400 million into university collaboration in 2021, and intends to invest more for deeper collaboration in the future.

Working side by side, we can ensure that our research and talent keep up with the latest developments, he noted.

Huawei works with over 300 universities and 900 research institutes worldwide. In 2021, it invested $400 million in university collaboration. 

The industry can work with universities on course and program design, joint talent training, and tech competitions, to identify and cultivate talent at numerous levels.

From the industry's perspective, Xu proposes five actions for industry-academia collaboration including continuing supporting breakthroughs in basic research and technology, and continuous industry innovation, among others.

Four Seasons Hotel Amman announces that it is the first and only hotel in Jordan to have earned the coveted five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide, the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. 

Further elevating its appeal as one of Jordan’s top luxury destinations, Four Seasons Hotel Amman invites guests to discover an entirely new hospitality experience following the completion of its extensive renovation program. The hotel has been completely redesigned, and blends the finest traditions of Jordanian hospitality with contemporary elegance to create a relaxing "home away from home" that is set to enchant both local visitors and international travelers.

The enhanced guest experience begins on the approach to the hotel, which sits atop the tallest of Amman's seven hills in the prestigious residential district. Visitors are greeted with elegant exterior lighting on the white stone-and-glass building and a completely new road framed by intricate landscaping, before arriving at the redesigned vestibule area that leads to the lobby. This grand entrance sets the tone for the tasteful interiors found within, which reflect the Jordanian capital’s intersection of Arabic, Islamic and Western cultures.

Carlo Stragiotto, General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Amman, said: “We are very proud that we have achieved the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, which is globally recognized as one of the highest accolades in the world of hospitality.This is testament to the fact that we are ableto offer our guests an unrivalled luxury experience thanks to our exceptional people.The emphasis placed on quality of service by the Forbes rating system makes it especially rewarding to know we are consistently delivering impeccable hospitality in true Four Seasons style. This achievement highlights the outstanding craftsmanship and dedication of our teams, whose shared passion for creating extraordinary experiences shines through and brings great delight to our guests on a daily basis."

Stragiotto added: “We are also proud to offer industry-leading technology such as the Four Seasons App and Chat, as well as our Lead With Care initiative for enhanced health and safety measures.”

“Travel has come back strongly, and the resilient hospitality industry is creatively rallying to accommodate the increased occupancy demand for most regions,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “While the industry faces some lingering issues, the 2022 award winners proved ready for those challenges and more, demonstrating the best that luxury hospitality has to offer.”

At Four Seasons Hotel Amman, visitors are invited to discover more than just world-class accommodation and culinary craftsmanship. The hotel’s concierge team is ready to help guests explore Jordan’s capital and beyond by sharing their personal favourites and revealing hidden gems through exclusive excursions to the North of Jordan. These passionate local experts are happy to put together customized itineraries that will help make guests’ stays even more memorable.

Methodology

Star ratings are awarded by a team of anonymous professional inspectors who travel the world to assess hotels, restaurants and spas based on 900 objective standards. Star ratings ultimately emphasise quality of service. Five-star properties are defined as "outstanding, often iconic properties with virtually flawless service and amazing facilities." Forbes Travel Guide rates properties in 73 countries throughout the world.

About Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on up to 900 objective standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travellers select the world's best luxury experiences. The only way to get a five-star, four-star or recommended rating is by earning it through this independent inspection process.