Latest news with #Essa
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
13th annual Essa Draft Horse Show
Essa Draft Horse Show was previously held at the Canadian National Exhibition before moving to Essa 13 years ago.
Malaysian Reserve
28-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
DIFC's H1 2025 results fuel Dubai's economic vision (D33) and demonstrate global leadership in financial services and innovation
DUBAI, UAE, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), announced its best-ever performance for the first half of a year, reinforcing its contribution in driving the future of finance and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). DIFC saw a record 1,081 new active registered companies join the Centre during the first six months of 2025 bringing the total number of active registered companies to 7,700. 47,901 professionals now work in DIFC. Total Financial services authorisations grew 28 per cent year-on-year – 78 in H1 2025 compared to 61 in H1 2024. DIFC's banking and capital markets cluster consists of 289 companies, up from 247 a year ago. The number of firms in the wealth and asset management sector increased to 440, up from 370 in H1 2024, growing 19 per cent year-on-year, with 85 hedge funds, including 69 billion-dollar funds. Over 10,000 funds are being managed or marketed from DIFC. Additionally, 1,035 entities associated with family businesses now operate from the Centre, up from 600 a year ago. The number of foundations in DIFC have accelerated to 842, up from 548 in H1 2024. 135 insurance-related firms operate from DIFC. Gross Written Premiums advanced to USD 3.5bn for 2024, compared to USD 2.6bn a year earlier. The number of FinTech and Innovation companies reached 1,388, up from 1,081 in H1 2024 a surge of 28 per cent. Total active non-financial entities increased to 6,335, up from 4,935 a year earlier. H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC said: 'DIFC remains the driving force behind Dubai's economic growth, as a key enabler of the financial services sector's expansion and diversification. Our consistent performance across all sectors and rising global standing strengthen our commitment to supporting innovation, attracting global capital, and reinforcing Dubai's status as one of the world's most competitive and diversified economies.' Dubai is one of eight cities globally to possess 'broad and deep' capabilities across all parts of the finance industry in the Global Financial Centres Index, alongside London, New York, and Paris. Over 1.6mn sq. ft. of commercial space is currently under development and construction being accelerated to meet demand. The new space will be ready for occupancy starting from Q1 2026. Photo – – View original content:
The Age
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Brisbane's best places to eat and drink
Happy Boy A modern institution a short walk from James Street Brothers Cameron and Jordan Votan channelled their childhood love of the humble suburban Chinese restaurant to create this rambunctious, keenly priced eatery, which packs out with diners seven nights a week. But what looks simple is, in fact, sophisticated: the menu draws its inspiration from all corners of China, and is matched by a brilliant wine list that presents some of Australia's best small growers. The restaurant's neighbouring sister venues – Snack Man and Petite – are also essential. All are just a short stroll from hip James Street. Under fairy-lit trees, East Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: 0413 246 890. See Agnes A wood-fired star in a heritage-listed warehouse Brisbane's best restaurant? Take a straw poll of local diners and most will tell you it's Agnes. Wood-fired dining is everywhere now but rarely this considered or precise, chef-owner Ben Williamson and head chef Ryan Carlson tapping the best local, seasonal produce and transforming it over a dramatic open hearth. The heritage-listed setting in a late 19th-century warehouse accounts for the rest of the charm. If you dine at just one Brisbane restaurant, make it Agnes. 22 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3067 9087. See Essa A James Street local's pick A hidden, low-key antidote to the surrounding glamour of James Street, Essa is where those in the know go for their midweek date nights. Chef Phil Marchant is a master at getting out of the way of his seasonal produce – you might eat wood-fired bugs with bay leaf butter and sea herbs, or barbecue spatchcock chicken with mortadella and beluga lentils. Most will chase a table in the moodily detailed dining room, but at the counter opposite the wood fire, watching the chefs in action, is the regulars' tip. Match it with a drink either before or after at neighbouring Nixon Room. 181 Robertson Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3177 1011. See Greca Generous, fast-paced Greek food on the river Brisbane's busiest restaurant? Greca is in with a decent shout. It doesn't matter when you visit, always book ahead. Homey, fast-paced Greek food – think luscious saganaki, oven-baked lamb shoulder and whole barbecue trout – is given a contemporary touch-up in this lively taverna-style eatery at Howard Smith Wharves. Where to sit? On the deck overlooking the river is best, with prime views of the city's financial district. The Barthelmes Group's neighbouring sister venue, Yoko, is excellent also. Howard Smith Wharf Precinct, 3/5 Boundary Street, Brisbane. Phone: (07) 3839 1203. See Stanley Elevated Cantonese from a top chef The king of Brisbane's Cantonese restaurants, Stanley occupies the heritage-listed former Water Police headquarters at buzzy Howard Smith Wharves. Star chef Louis Tikaram taps his local roots to present exceptional seasonal produce cooked with vibrant Cantonese flavours. You might order soy-poached chicken with Cantonese five spice roast duck, or wok-tossed typhoon shelter mud crab. Hit the restaurant early in the evening to catch the best of the riverside sunset, before heading upstairs for knockoffs at Stans, its vinyl-spinning, cocktail-slinging sister bar. 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. Phone: (07) 3558 9418. See Coffee Anthology The yardstick for Brisbane specialty coffee Rated as the eighth-best coffee shop in the world, Coffee Anthology's Adam Wang has built his reputation on a laser-focused eye for detail when presenting the best roasters from around the country. Like any coffee spot worth its weight in beans, the brew is available as espresso, filter or batch. Anthology shares its smart city digs behind a refurbished heritage facade with two sister venues: grab a flaky croissant from The Whisk and takeaway your coffee to nearby City Botanic Gardens, or settle in at Fika for one of the best brunches in the CBD. 155 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City. See Baja A lively frontrunner for the city's best Mexican Australia's evolution of Mexican cuisine into something more authentic took a moment to reach Brisbane, but owner-operator Daniel Quinn took the initiative with this freewheeling, brightly detailed restaurant. The food is all braised brisket and carnitas tacos, reef fish aguachile, and charred and pickled sweet corn, the drinks anchored by a list of tequila and mezcal mostly sourced from smaller, independent agave farms in Mexico. The perfect starting point for a night out in party precinct Fortitude Valley. 211 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3625 0069. See Exhibition Essential omakase in a subterranean CBD space Tim Scott moved on from the acclaimed Joy (also fabulous, if you can nab a booking) to open this precise, Japanese influenced restaurant in the heart of the CBD. Head down the stairs into a moody, subterranean bolthole as Scott channels his vivid creativity into an experience designed to showcase the best local produce (the restaurant's co-owner is Michael Nguyen of Thai Hoa Grocer – one of the best suppliers of fresh produce in the city). A must-do, particularly when combined with a cocktail from natty Dr Gimlette upstairs. Milquetoast Brilliant wines and British food in a rumpus room-like space Find the moody laneway opposite the newly opened InterContinental Hotel on Elizabeth Street and you've found Milquetoast, which occupies an old garage behind a roller door. Billed as a wine bar first, Milquetoast co-owner James Horsfall has compiled a 70(ish)-bottle list that focuses on small producers, while venue manager Aidan Perkins manages a cocktail list that focuses on higher end spirits. For food, chef Jack Burgess cooks a surprisingly innovative menu that drills down on a revitalised interest in British food. Treat this as a two-hander with rock bar Alice, across the laneway. Laneway/199 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. Phone: 0420 740 514. See RDA Peerless French technique meets Australian produce Chef-patron Dan Arnold (RDA is short for Restaurant Dan Arnold) has taken years of training in Gallic kitchens and applied them to local produce presented over either a three-course, five-course or 'carte blanche' (chef's selection) menu. It's often breathtaking stuff that will reward seasoned diners, but is just as appealing to those on a date night. Head to Arnold's La Cache a Vin in Spring Hill if you're chasing something more provincial in style. 10/959 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3189 2735. See Rothwell's Trans-Atlantic dining in sumptuous digs Inspired by restaurants such as The Wolseley in London, and Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles, Rothwell's is a favourite among the power lunchers from the nearby financial district, but at night dims the lights to welcome occasion diners drawn by chef Ben Russell's (formerly Aria Brisbane) European-inspired menu. The heritage space, with its sumptuous booths and reams of marble, is the perfect place to celebrate over generous pastas and meat dishes, while knocking back a few martinis (served with a sidecar on ice). Co-owner Dan Clark also operates 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba if you're after Roman comfort food accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Florence A picture-perfect excuse to explore Brisbane's bucolic suburbs Florence occupies an old weatherboard shopfront in bucolic Camp Hill, about 10 minutes from the city. Generous breakfasts and brunches in the cafe's light-filled dining room are the go here, but it's worth visiting just for a coffee before hitting up nearby Camp Hill Antique Centre for something to take home with you. 54 Martha Street, Camp Hill. Phone: 0436 469 611. See Naldham House Brasserie A slick linchpin in a heritage dining precinct From Dap & Co (Andrew Baturo, Denis Sheahan and Splendour in the Grass creator Paul Piticco) comes this heritage-listed diner, that has hatted chef Doug Kyte (formerly Grill Americano in Melbourne) in the kitchen. Expect a menu of elevated Euro-inspired comfort food in a dining room decked out in a kaleidoscope of patterns from crack designer Anna Spiro. The linchpin in a three-level mini dining precinct, and upstairs you'll find cocktail bar Club Felix and The Fifty Six, a brilliant new Cantonese restaurant.
Sydney Morning Herald
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane's best places to eat and drink
Happy Boy A modern institution a short walk from James Street Brothers Cameron and Jordan Votan channelled their childhood love of the humble suburban Chinese restaurant to create this rambunctious, keenly priced eatery, which packs out with diners seven nights a week. But what looks simple is, in fact, sophisticated: the menu draws its inspiration from all corners of China, and is matched by a brilliant wine list that presents some of Australia's best small growers. The restaurant's neighbouring sister venues – Snack Man and Petite – are also essential. All are just a short stroll from hip James Street. Under fairy-lit trees, East Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: 0413 246 890. See Agnes A wood-fired star in a heritage-listed warehouse Brisbane's best restaurant? Take a straw poll of local diners and most will tell you it's Agnes. Wood-fired dining is everywhere now but rarely this considered or precise, chef-owner Ben Williamson and head chef Ryan Carlson tapping the best local, seasonal produce and transforming it over a dramatic open hearth. The heritage-listed setting in a late 19th-century warehouse accounts for the rest of the charm. If you dine at just one Brisbane restaurant, make it Agnes. 22 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3067 9087. See Essa A James Street local's pick A hidden, low-key antidote to the surrounding glamour of James Street, Essa is where those in the know go for their midweek date nights. Chef Phil Marchant is a master at getting out of the way of his seasonal produce – you might eat wood-fired bugs with bay leaf butter and sea herbs, or barbecue spatchcock chicken with mortadella and beluga lentils. Most will chase a table in the moodily detailed dining room, but at the counter opposite the wood fire, watching the chefs in action, is the regulars' tip. Match it with a drink either before or after at neighbouring Nixon Room. 181 Robertson Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3177 1011. See Greca Generous, fast-paced Greek food on the river Brisbane's busiest restaurant? Greca is in with a decent shout. It doesn't matter when you visit, always book ahead. Homey, fast-paced Greek food – think luscious saganaki, oven-baked lamb shoulder and whole barbecue trout – is given a contemporary touch-up in this lively taverna-style eatery at Howard Smith Wharves. Where to sit? On the deck overlooking the river is best, with prime views of the city's financial district. The Barthelmes Group's neighbouring sister venue, Yoko, is excellent also. Howard Smith Wharf Precinct, 3/5 Boundary Street, Brisbane. Phone: (07) 3839 1203. See Stanley Elevated Cantonese from a top chef The king of Brisbane's Cantonese restaurants, Stanley occupies the heritage-listed former Water Police headquarters at buzzy Howard Smith Wharves. Star chef Louis Tikaram taps his local roots to present exceptional seasonal produce cooked with vibrant Cantonese flavours. You might order soy-poached chicken with Cantonese five spice roast duck, or wok-tossed typhoon shelter mud crab. Hit the restaurant early in the evening to catch the best of the riverside sunset, before heading upstairs for knockoffs at Stans, its vinyl-spinning, cocktail-slinging sister bar. 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. Phone: (07) 3558 9418. See Coffee Anthology The yardstick for Brisbane specialty coffee Rated as the eighth-best coffee shop in the world, Coffee Anthology's Adam Wang has built his reputation on a laser-focused eye for detail when presenting the best roasters from around the country. Like any coffee spot worth its weight in beans, the brew is available as espresso, filter or batch. Anthology shares its smart city digs behind a refurbished heritage facade with two sister venues: grab a flaky croissant from The Whisk and takeaway your coffee to nearby City Botanic Gardens, or settle in at Fika for one of the best brunches in the CBD. 155 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City. See Baja A lively frontrunner for the city's best Mexican Australia's evolution of Mexican cuisine into something more authentic took a moment to reach Brisbane, but owner-operator Daniel Quinn took the initiative with this freewheeling, brightly detailed restaurant. The food is all braised brisket and carnitas tacos, reef fish aguachile, and charred and pickled sweet corn, the drinks anchored by a list of tequila and mezcal mostly sourced from smaller, independent agave farms in Mexico. The perfect starting point for a night out in party precinct Fortitude Valley. 211 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3625 0069. See Exhibition Essential omakase in a subterranean CBD space Tim Scott moved on from the acclaimed Joy (also fabulous, if you can nab a booking) to open this precise, Japanese influenced restaurant in the heart of the CBD. Head down the stairs into a moody, subterranean bolthole as Scott channels his vivid creativity into an experience designed to showcase the best local produce (the restaurant's co-owner is Michael Nguyen of Thai Hoa Grocer – one of the best suppliers of fresh produce in the city). A must-do, particularly when combined with a cocktail from natty Dr Gimlette upstairs. Milquetoast Brilliant wines and British food in a rumpus room-like space Find the moody laneway opposite the newly opened InterContinental Hotel on Elizabeth Street and you've found Milquetoast, which occupies an old garage behind a roller door. Billed as a wine bar first, Milquetoast co-owner James Horsfall has compiled a 70(ish)-bottle list that focuses on small producers, while venue manager Aidan Perkins manages a cocktail list that focuses on higher end spirits. For food, chef Jack Burgess cooks a surprisingly innovative menu that drills down on a revitalised interest in British food. Treat this as a two-hander with rock bar Alice, across the laneway. Laneway/199 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. Phone: 0420 740 514. See RDA Peerless French technique meets Australian produce Chef-patron Dan Arnold (RDA is short for Restaurant Dan Arnold) has taken years of training in Gallic kitchens and applied them to local produce presented over either a three-course, five-course or 'carte blanche' (chef's selection) menu. It's often breathtaking stuff that will reward seasoned diners, but is just as appealing to those on a date night. Head to Arnold's La Cache a Vin in Spring Hill if you're chasing something more provincial in style. 10/959 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Phone: (07) 3189 2735. See Rothwell's Trans-Atlantic dining in sumptuous digs Inspired by restaurants such as The Wolseley in London, and Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles, Rothwell's is a favourite among the power lunchers from the nearby financial district, but at night dims the lights to welcome occasion diners drawn by chef Ben Russell's (formerly Aria Brisbane) European-inspired menu. The heritage space, with its sumptuous booths and reams of marble, is the perfect place to celebrate over generous pastas and meat dishes, while knocking back a few martinis (served with a sidecar on ice). Co-owner Dan Clark also operates 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba if you're chasing Roman comfort food accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Florence A picture-perfect excuse to explore Brisbane's bucolic suburbs Florence occupies an old weatherboard shopfront in bucolic Camp Hill, about 10 minutes from the city. Generous breakfasts and brunches in the cafe's light-filled dining room are the go here, but it's worth visiting just for a coffee before hitting up nearby Camp Hill Antique Centre for something to take home with you. 54 Martha Street, Camp Hill. Phone: 0436 469 611. See Naldham House Brasserie A slick linchpin in a heritage dining precinct From Dap & Co (Andrew Baturo, Denis Sheahan and Splendour in the Grass creator Paul Piticco) comes this heritage-listed diner, that has hatted chef Doug Kyte (formerly Grill Americano in Melbourne) in the kitchen. Expect a menu of elevated Euro-inspired comfort food in a dining room decked out in a kaleidoscope of patterns from crack designer Anna Spiro. The linchpin in a three-level mini dining precinct, and upstairs you'll find cocktail bar Club Felix and The Fifty Six, a brilliant new Cantonese restaurant.
Libya Review
30-06-2025
- Business
- Libya Review
Libya's Central Bank Governor Calls for Ban on Non-Banking Imports
The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Essa, called on the Economy and Trade Minister, Mohamed Al-Hwaij, to reinstate a suspended regulation banning imports and exports conducted outside official banking channels. Essa cautioned that the suspension of this rule could have serious financial and security repercussions for the country. The policy, known as Decision No. 42 of 2025, was introduced by the Economy Ministry in January and took effect on April 1. It required all international trade transactions to be processed through accredited banks. However, in early April, the ministry decided to pause the law, a move that the Central Bank says undermines Libya's efforts to restore financial order. In his letter, Essa expressed 'regret and surprise' at the ministry's decision to halt the ban. He warned that the reversal has fueled the growth of a parallel foreign exchange market, encouraged smuggling, and opened avenues for illicit financial activities. These practices not only place pressure on the Libyan dinar's exchange rate but also risk Libya's standing with international correspondent banks that demand compliance with global standards. Essa also flagged potential economic risks from importing goods outside official channels, including the depletion of foreign reserves and the invasion of substandard or unregulated products into the market. Such developments endanger consumer safety and undermine quality standards. Calling for the swift restoration of the banking-only regulation, Essa urged the Economy Ministry to direct the Customs Authority to enforce the ban without delay. He emphasized that this step is vital for achieving financial stability, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting Libya's reintegration into the global financial system. This appeal comes at a critical moment as Libya continues efforts to rebuild its economy following years of political upheaval and fractured governance. Financial authorities have consistently warned that informal trade undermines fiscal discipline, drains reserves, and weakens state control over strategic sectors.
