PARIS: Shareholders of French automaker PSA voted yesterday to approve a merger with the US-Italian group Fiat Chrysler, a move that catapults the new company, “Stellantis”, into the fourth position of the world’s carmakers by volume. 

CALAIS: Goods flowed smoothly across the Channel between Britain and France yesterday, the first working day since the completion of Brexit last week. Nearly 3,000 trucks have passed through the Channel Tunnel from France to Britain since the UK left the EU customs union and single market at midnight on December 31, in the final act of its divorce from the EU.

LONDON: Britain on Friday began a new year and life outside the European Union’s single market, with the first trucks crossing the Channel by ferry and rail largely reporting few difficulties despite new customs rules. 

RIYADH/KUWAIT: Zain Group, a leading mobile telecom innovator in seven markets across the Middle East and North Africa announces that Tamam Financing Company (Tamam), the financial technology (fintech) subsidiary of its operation in Saudi Arabia has been officially licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to provide micro-financing services to consumers across the Kingdom.

WASHINGTON: The United States announced Wednesday that it will impose additional tariffs on French and German products as part of a long-running dispute over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. 

HONG KONG: The pound extended gains against the dollar yesterday as traders cheered the authorization of another vaccine and final ratification of the Brexit trade deal, while Asian markets were mixed as a painful year drew to a close. While the world economy has been devastated by the coronavirus and lockdowns it has caused, markets have enjoyed a broadly healthy year thanks to governments and central banks stumping up mind-boggling amounts of money to prevent a depression.

LONDON: Brexit became a reality yesterday as Britain left Europe’s customs union and single market, ending nearly half-a-century of often turbulent ties with its closest neighbors. 

KUWAIT: PROCAPITA Management Consulting launched its special annual report on the latest HR practices for 2020, which was distinctively developed. 

KUWAIT: The CEO of Incheon Korea Airport Services (T4 operator), Kwang Soo Lee, stated to “Kuwait Times” that he is happy to re-open the airport and operate commercial flights again on Saturday January 2nd, 2021 at 4 am after ceasing flights for 12 days, optimistic about the joy of departure and arrival passengers.