• Potential investors value Telegram at $30bn, says co-founder Pavel Durov

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA – The Telegram is valued by potential investors at more than US$30 billion, the co-founder of the social network Pavel Durov said. The US$30 billion valuation was made by global technology funds in particular, Durov said in an interview with The Financial Times. “Generally speaking, we see value...
  • Arab Israelis let out of Gaza recount ‘terrifying’ journey

    JERUSALEM - When Fatima, an Arab Israeli married to a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, fled Israel's bombardment of the territory, she was terrified they would run out of fuel. "We feared that the gas wouldn't be enough. The road was deserted. All the way along, we saw devastated houses,"...
  • Nobel winner Yunus convicted in Bangladesh labor law case

    Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering microfinance bank but has earned the enmity of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has accused him of "sucking blood" from the poor.
  • Morocco law reform offers hope for women’s rights

    Rabat, Morocco - Two decades after a landmark but limited revision of Morocco's family law marked a breakthrough for women, activists hope new reforms will defy objections and provide greater equality. The reform of the legal code was ordered directly by King Mohammed VI, who is expected to have the final...
  • New platform to revolutionize global sustainability

    World Wide Generation's and e& join hands to combine innovative technology and global collaboration to address critical environmental, social, and economic challenges.
  • Debt Settlement Fund waives default loans worth over US$107m in UAE

    DUBAI, UAE - The Citizens Debts Settlement Fund announced the exemption of 1,244 citizens from their debts with a total value of US$107 million (AED394,586,000), in cooperation with 18 banks and financial institutions in the country. The initiative follows the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and...
  • UAE approves $52 billion federal budget for 2024-26

    UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who chaired a meeting of the cabinet where the budget was approved, said that during 2024, the development and social benefits sector will receive 42 percent, government affairs 39 percent and the remainder will be channeled to enhance the infrastructure and...
  • Morocco to teach Berber language in more schools

    Morocco has the largest population of Berbers in North Africa, and Thursday's decision responds to a long-standing demand by activists to preserve the language, which is currently taught to just 330,000 pupils. The move "will necessitate more specialist and bilingual teachers", the education minister said.
  • Royal fever sweeps Jordan ahead of crown prince Hussein’s wedding

    On the big day for the Hashemite kingdom, a key Western ally, the royal red motorcade, reserved for special occasions, will cross the capital Amman to celebrate the bride and groom who are both 28 years old. On Monday, famous musicians from across the Arab world flocked to the Jordanian...
  • Twitter withdraws from EU disinformation code

    Twitter has decided to leave the EU's disinformation code, a voluntary pact that groups together the major social platforms, but "its obligations remain," EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted. Launched in 2018, the EU's code of practice on disinformation counts nearly three dozen signatories including Meta, Google, Twitter, Microsoft and...
  • UAE institutional investors should focus on transition investment: NYUAD report

    Abu Dhabi, UAE-- In order to advance the United Nations Social Development Goals, the UAE institutional investors should concentrate on transition investment, taking advantage of their access to emerging markets. This is the conclusion of a NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) report. The annual report "Transition Investment Lab (TIL)" was launched...
  • Green initiatives, SWFs drive M&A growth across GCC

    Saudi Arabia emerges as an appealing market for foreign corporations interested in M&A deals due to rising global crude oil demand, Vision 2030, and private sector development.
  • Saudi WEF delegation to highlight progress under Vision 2030

    It aims to enhance global cooperation and design joint solutions to today’s geopolitical, social, economic, and human development challenges. Saudi’s delegation will discuss how it addressed challenges posed by the pandemic and share insights into the solutions that helped maintain a robust performance in the face of rising global pressures.
  • DEWA launches construction work of Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project

    DUBAI, UAE -   MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)    Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer has launched the construction work for the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project. The  US$12 million (AED 46 million) project was recently awarded to DEWA and is part of the company's social and investment responsibility...
  • UAE, Indonesia to cooperate in energy sector

    UAE and Indonesia have signed a Declaration of Intent to boost economic and social development between the two countries and exchange knowledge and data in the energy sector.
  • By 2030, TAQA targets a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

    The strategy includes the national low-carbon power and water champion’s interim greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals.
  • Mahsa Amini death exposes rival faces of Tehran

    For the past week since the 22-year-old's death, protesters have taken to the streets each evening in various parts of the capital.
  • Death toll mounts in Iran protests as online services cut

    Amini, 22, died last week after her arrest by the Islamic republic's feared morality police for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an "improper" way, and news of her death sparked widespread outrage. Protesters have been heard shouting "death to the dictator" and "woman, life, freedom" in video footage shared...
  • DMCC welcomes 15 companies for training program

    Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has announced that 15 companies have been selected to participate in the DMCC Impact Scale-Up Program.
  • GCC insurers adopting sustainable finance practices

    Even as only half of the significant insurers in the region are disclosing ESG information, sustainability has gained significant traction in financial services in last few years.
  • UAE public spending $3 billion in Q1, public services take major share

    UAE’s Ministry of Finance has announced that the revenues of federal authorities in the first quarter of 2022 amounted to AED11.339 billion ($3 billion) while their expenditures amounted to some AED11.354 billion during the same period. In the financial performance report of the outcomes of the implementation of the general...
  • UAEU initiates research program to support scientific activities

    The funding for each project ranges from AED 250,000 for literary, social, and humanities proposals to AED 400,000 for other lab-based research proposals.
  • Saudi group at WEF calls for international cooperation

    A Saudi delegation said Wednesday that the transformation march launched by it a few years ago contributed to enhancing the economic, social and development dimensions of the Kingdom and has created qualitative investment opportunities. The delegation participated in a panel discussion, "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Future Vision", on  Wednesday...
  • Global ESG assets could reach $50 trillion by 2025 : PIF Governor

    Global environmental, social, and governance assets are expected to hit $41 trillion by the end of this year, and $50 trillion by 2025, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi sovereign fund said. The growth in assets is due to the fact that Public Investment Fund continues to enhance ESG integration...
  • Sandstorm leaves more than 1,000 Iraqis in hospital

    More than 1,000 Iraqis were rushed to hospital with respiratory ailments on Thursday due to a sandstorm, the seventh to hit the country in the past month, state media said.
  • France donates $5.5m to Jordan for a development project

    The Jordan Education for Employment (JEFE) organization and the French Development Agency on Saturday signed a grant agreement worth 5 million euros to launch the "Ilhamy" (my inspiration) project.
  • World Meteorology Organization hails Saudi center for saving lives

    WMO noted that extreme weather, water and climate phenomena have become more frequent and more severe in many parts of the world due to climate change.
  • Egypt appoints its first woman judge to a top court

    Radwa Helmi made history on Saturday as the first woman judge to sit on the bench of Egypt's State Council, a top court in the Arab country. Egypt has hundreds of women lawyers but it took decades for one to move up the judicial ladder and become a judge.
  • Tunisia allots $10.4m to ‘social and solidarity economy’

    Tunisia has devoted a budget of 30 MD ($10.4m) to the social and solidarity economy for the next three years.
  • Jusoor Foundation launches four development projects in Oman

    The project includes the establishment of a park gate, mosque, security booth, toilets and parking lot.
  • DMCC to collaborate with C3 to initiate Impact Scale-Up program in Dubai

    C3 is a UAE-based social enterprise empowering impact-driven entrepreneurs across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
  • Dubai to host international aid conference in March

    The 18th annual Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition - DIHAD 2022, will take place from 14th to 16th March, 2022.
  • Dubai seeks feedback on social services to enhance quality of life

    The UAE has issued a decree which seeks to obtain feedback from Emiratis on their requirements for social services, with the aim of enhancing their quality of life and strengthening neighborhood community bonds. Prime Minister of The UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued it on Residential Neighborhood Majlises...
  • Syria approves $5bn budget for 2022 as economic crisis hits finances

    Syrian lawmakers have approved a draft budget for 2022 of $5.3 billion, down from $6.8 billion this year, as a spiraling economic crisis hits public finances and threatens subsidies on essential goods. A decade of war, Western sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic have devastated the Syrian economy, pushing most of...
  • Qatar approves draft social security and military retirement laws

    Qatari cabinet has approved draft social security and military retirement laws aimed at establishing "an effective social protection system for all Qataris to face the burdens of life, meet the aspirations of retirees and ensure a decent life for them and their families". The draft laws call for expanding the...
  • UAE well-being indicator has achieved progress, says minister

    Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development and Chairwoman of Digital Wellbeing Council, said that the UAE well-being indicator achieved progress in social, healthcare, educational and economic aspects.
  • Social unrest may spoil Mideast recovery: IMF

    The fund also warned that the longer-term risk of the uneven recovery could permanently widen wealth, income, and social gaps.
  • Egypt to tax social media stars earning more than $32,000 annually

    Egypt said it will tax social media content creators in a revenue raising exercise as more citizens look to online platforms to make a living.
  • Ruler of Dubai unveils Dubai Digital Authority

    *The Authority to oversee digital transformation *It is expected to bring about social and economic benefits to Dubai In order to obtain more social and economic benefits from digital transformation begun twenty-years ago, Dubai has set up a new body Dubai Digital Authority to provide digital services to both individuals and...
  • Chalhoub Group to hire more women for top position in Saudi Arabia

    Chalhoub Group is going to pack its top management positions with more women, and will also raise the number of Saudis working in the company