News covering Polk County and the surrounding area was charged with Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct at Mena Regional Health Systems A report of criminal trespass and criminal mischief was taken a Dogwood Grooming and Boarding A report of financial identity fraud was taken from a walk-in complainant was served with a warrant at the police department A report of terroristic threatening and violation of a protection order was taken from a walk-in complainant A report of trespassing was taken at 1002 Highway 71 South A report of a missing person was taken at Exxon A report of dogs running at large was taken from a walk-in complainant A report of breaking or entering was taken at a residence on 9th Street was served with warrants at a residence on Tulip Street A death investigation report was taken at a residence on 12th Street were both served with warrants at a residence in Rebeca’s Apartments was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a traffic stop on Highway 71 was charged with Public Intoxication on Sherwood Avenue Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Dubai—Dentons has received two awards at the IJGlobal MENA Awards 2025 The Firm was recognised for its role in two landmark deals: is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi's CO₂ emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tonnes annually The project plays a critical role in advancing the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero by 2050 goals contributing significantly to the country's energy diversification and sustainability efforts The Hafeet Rail project marks the GCC's first cross-border rail network linking key ports and industrial zones between the UAE and Oman the 238km network was financed through a US$1.5 billion limited-recourse facility involving 17 banks including both conventional and Islamic tranches The project is expected to drive economic growth reduce emissions and attract investment across the region "These awards reflect Dentons' deep expertise in advising on complex, high-impact infrastructure and energy projects across the MENA region," said Stephen Knight "We are grateful to our clients and partners for their trust and collaboration – these achievements would not have been possible without them." Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com stephen.knight@dentons.com kanishka.singh@dentons.com yasser.taqi@dentons.com sadaf.buchanan@dentons.com D +971 2 613 1520 jiten.patel@dentons.com Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates This website and its publications are not designed to provide legal or other advice and you should not take You will now be taken from the global Dentons website to the $redirectingsite website 大成 is a partnership law firm organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and is Dentons' Preferred Law Firm in China with offices in more than 40 locations throughout China Dentons Group (a Swiss Verein) ("Dentons") is a separate international law firm with members and affiliates in more than 160 locations around the world please see dacheng.com/legal-notices or dentons.com/legal-notices The initial lawsuit was filed in March by Edwin Mena and his spouse against Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Richland County investigator Deena Levine Mena was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in March 2023 The lawsuit claims Mena’s arrest stemmed from Levine’s investigative documents which stated Mena confessed to sexually assaulting the minor during an interview with her The lawsuit argues he never confessed to sexual assault but had tried to deny the allegations Mena’s lawyer hired translators to listen to the interview and he claims Mena never confessed to sexual assault Lott said they are filing a lawsuit against Mena and his wife Answer and Counterclaims - Inv. Levine by Bea Parrillaa on Scribd “To accuse my investigator of taking the scales of justice and putting her thumb on it he took the scales of justice and knocked it completely off the table with his false allegations against this department and against my investigator.” held a press conference regarding the lawsuit against the Richland County Sheriff’s Department The lawsuit claims the transcription of the interview between Mena and investigator Levine revealed that not only did Mena never confess to three separate sexual assaults of a minor Shealey said he requested the interview from RSCD and had the transcription of it translated by a third party that Mena denied the allegations during the interview and did not provide a confession is my client denying the allegations for over an hour over an hour of him saying I did not do this,” said Shealey The charges against Mena have since been dropped “After reviewing all evidence related to the case our office determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.” Sheriff Lott said he would normally let the courts decide the fate of a lawsuit’s allegations “They can put anything they want in this lawsuit; it doesn’t have to be backed up by facts,” said Lott “I am not going to let somebody publicly defame and try to destroy one of my people when they have done absolutely nothing wrong.” Lott told reporters Thursday that he filed the counter lawsuit because the accusations against investigator Levine were false claimed she had been sexually assaulted from the ages of 7-14 the counter suit claims he admitted to exposing his private parts while participating in a sexual act with the minor present The counter by RCSD claims investigator Levine asked Mena if he had sexually assaulted the victim on numerous occasions some of the responses in that counter lawsuit are The countersuit also alleges that Mena admitted he might have assaulted the victim more than once “And when he [Mena] is asked if he did it more than one time The lawsuit said that Mena defamed Levine by publicizing statements about her being a corrupt investigator and accusing her of lying during the course of her investigation we cannot have officers that are going to without accountability Deena Levine operates almost exclusively on Spanish-speaking investigations,” said Shealey WIS reached out to the Shealey Law Firm for a response to RCSD’s counter lawsuit “We have never disputed that a teenager came forth and said that Mr the Sheriff Lott’s investigator did no investigation whatsoever beyond interviewing the alleged victims and Mr she submitted false information to the solicitor’s office that Mr Mena had confessed to the crimes when he had done no such thing.” Mena as a child molester means that he is doing exactly what he is accusing us of doing: however the only difference is that we have direct evidence that his investigator lied Edwin Mena - Shealey Law Response to Leon Lott by connaughtonkjc19 Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here Answer and Counterclaims - Inv. Levine by Bea Parrillaa on Scribd The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) startup ecosystem saw a substantial surge in investment in April 2025, securing $228.4 million across 26 deals. This figure marks a 105% increase from the funds raised in March and nearly a 300% rise compared to April last year the absence of debt-financed deals in April highlights growing investor confidence in equity-based funding— a trend reflecting a healthier capital environment Saudi Arabia led MENA startup funding during the month, attracting $158.5 million across eight deals—primarily driven by iMENA Group’s $135 million pre-IPO round with nine startups raising a total of $62 million Morocco experienced a notable jump to third place attracting $4 million in funding across two startups with four startups securing just $1.5 million Investor appetite remained strongest in the fintech sector, which attracted $44 million across seven deals. Traveltech also climbed the ranks, thanks in part to HRA Experience’s transaction while e-commerce drew $2.5 million across three startups securing $1.8 million in three deals after minimal visibility in the first quarter While later-stage activity was limited to iMENA’s pre-IPO round early-stage startups dominated the month’s investment landscape raising $49 million across 20 transactions Funding for female-led startups continued its downward trend falling to a concerning low of under $500,000 in April startups with male founders secured 97% of all disclosed investment An additional $6.5 million went to three startups with both male and female co-founders the business-to-business (B2B) segment led the way attracting an impressive $180 million across 12 deals Business-to-consumer (B2C) startups followed The remaining investments went to six startups operating dual B2B and B2C models Sign up to receive our weekly digest of stories Wamda is licensed under a creative commons attribution-nonCommercial - noDerivs 3.0 unported license Please check your email to confirm your subscription July 18 is the deadline for artists 18 or older who reside in Arkansas Tennessee or Texas to submit entries -- traditional and digital artworks -- for the 2025 Irene Rosenzweig Biennial Juried Exhibition at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas cultural worker and naturalist Eepi Chaad of Houston is the year's juror There are three $100 merit awards and $2,000 available in purchase awards Entry fee is $25 per, with a maximum of five entries per artist. Visit artx3.org/rosenzweig for submission guidelines and the entry portal. For more information about the exhibition or submission process, contact Matthew Howard, the center's visitor relations coordinator; call (870) 536-3375 or email [email protected] The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra hosts its Summer Strings Camp The program is designed for string students of all ages and skill levels; participants will engage in daily instruction from directors of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestras Arkansas Symphony String Academy teachers and other members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Campers will be placed in one of two orchestras; they'll receive music theory classes and/or All-Region prep courses and take part in instrument-specific ensembles The camp includes faculty performances and a final student recital ASO co-concertmaster Kiril Laskarov will lead a chamber music session during the second week Tuition is $350; scholarships are available. Register at arkansassymphony.org/summer-strings-camp. For more information, email camp director Katherine Williamson at [email protected] Fayetteville clarinetist Arissa Cholthitchanta was the grand prize winner April 26 of the Stella Boyle Smith Young Artists Competition at the Arkansas Symphony's Stella Boyle Smith Music Center in Little Rock performed the first movement of the Clarinet Concerto No Nine finalists performed concertos in the competition sponsored by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild took top honors and a $250 cash prize in the piano category performing the first movement Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No And cellist Isabel Lopez Furlong of Hot Springs after performing the first movement of Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in e minor theater and restaurants for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette He joined the then-Arkansas Democrat on the copy desk in June 1977 and served for 17 years (including the entirety of the newspaper war) as the paper's entertainment editor before taking on his current role as features reporter He is also host of the weekly classical music show "Major and Minor Masterpieces" on public radio station KLRE-FM This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Donate Analysts are keeping a close watch on upcoming regional data releases that will shed light on the economic outlook through 2025–26. The International Monetary Fund’s latest regional economic outlook—published on 1 May—projects only modest GDP growth across the Middle East and North Africa will be instrumental in revealing demand trends and shaping monetary policy expectations across diverse economies in the region Morocco is set to host the UNEP Finance Initiative’s Africa & Middle East Regional Roundtable in Marrakech on 6–7 May 2025 This high‑level meeting will bring together banks and investors to advance the sustainable finance agenda in MENA Discussions will focus on key themes including climate mitigation As governments throughout the region work to develop green finance regulations outcomes from this roundtable could play a decisive role in steering regional efforts to attract “green” capital underpinning the broader drive toward a sustainable economic future President Trump’s mid‐May visit to Saudi Arabia marks a significant moment for U.S According to Axios, the president is scheduled to host a high‑level summit with leaders from all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar Organized under the auspices of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman the meeting is expected to focus on issues such as new investment opportunities and collaboration in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence This summit continues a pattern established during Trump’s earlier term and comes at a time when the U.S. is also negotiating a potential nuclear deal with Iran Lebanon’s long‐delayed municipal elections have finally been scheduled with voters in North Lebanon and Akkar slated to vote on 11 May 2025 These elections are seen as pivotal given that more than half of Lebanon’s municipal councils are currently either non-functional or administered by temporary governor’s control due to persistent funding shortages and political disputes With a strong contest expected in these regions this electoral round is anticipated to inject new local representation and help address long‑standing governance challenges in a country grappling with serious economic and political turmoil On 6 May 2025, both Lebanon and Syria will observe Martyrs’ Day—a public holiday dedicated to commemorating nationalist leaders executed in 1916 which include the closure of schools and government offices the day serves as an important moment for societal reflection on issues of national identity and colonial history Readers should anticipate detailed local media coverage of these commemorative events along with any political statements that may arise from Lebanese or Syrian officials regarding national heritage and ongoing identity debates the Middle East and North Africa region will witness significant developments: a pivotal U.S.–Gulf summit in Saudi Arabia and a sustainable finance roundtable in Morocco Martyrs’ Day observances in Lebanon and Syria will offer moments of reflection on national identity These events collectively provide valuable insights into the region’s evolving political an infrastructure and energy online news and data service has honored global law firm White & Case LLP with eight MENA "Deal of the Year" awards for transactions the Firm advised on in 2024 Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome window.tgpQueue.add('tgpli-6819a152bd96e') Jeff ‘Chalkx’ Fox and Daniel ‘Gumby’ Vreeland are back in your earholes with their PFL MENA 1 betting guide PFL runs its first MENA event this Friday in Saudi Arabia with the first round of their featherweight and lightweight tournaments The boys preview and break down the fight card Apple Spotify The Sports Gambling Podcast is a registered trademark WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) BeIN Sports has secured its position as the exclusive broadcaster of the UEFA Champions League in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with the announcement of a new multi-year rights deal This agreement ensures that beIN Sports will continue its coverage of the UEFA Champions League said: “With UEFA’s new competition format living up to its promise and producing huge matches from match day one we are delighted that beIN will continue to bring this new era to our subscribers in MENA and Asia.” added: “We are delighted to extend our long-standing fruitful partnership with beIN SPORTS.” “Thanks to their cutting-edge analysis and high-quality production levels fans in 33 countries across the Middle East and Asia will continue to enjoy the new-look UEFA men’s club competitions in addition to the exciting revamped UEFA Women’s Champions League for the next three years,” Epstein said a collaboration between UEFA and the European Club Association aimed at maximising UEFA’s commercial rights signifies a strengthening of UEFA competitions in the MENA and broader Asian markets beIN Sports’ reach spans 33 nations in Asia as well as Southeast Asian territories like Hong Kong The collaboration with sports marketing agency Relevant as UEFA’s global marketing and sales partner is set to further enhance the visibility of UEFA’s premier competitions Since acquiring the Champions League rights in the 2012/13 season beIN Sports has provided access to this premier tournament across 23 MENA countries and 10 Asian nations The ongoing relationship highlights the platform’s commitment to delivering top-tier European club football to its viewers A notable shift in this season’s tournament format has expanded the number of participating teams from 32 to 36 transitioning to an innovative eight-game league phase This change not only allows for an increased number of broadcasts but also provides UEFA partners with the opportunity to present a broader array of fixtures ultimately enhancing viewer engagement and increasing overall interest in the competitions Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today! In an intriguing intersection of politics and sports LaLiga announced their financial performance for the 2023/24 season Netflix’s strategic expansion into the sports broadcasting arena is positioning the streaming service.. We play the game to add value to the Sports Business industry by delivering News Join the most engaged community in the sports business world Copyright © 2025 | Ministry of Sport | All Rights Reserved Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to harassment of Mena was arrested on a Failure to Appear Warrant Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 69 near Mena in reference to a theft of prescription medications Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 188 near Acorn in reference to a verbal dispute Deputies responded to a report of financial identity fraud of Mena was arrested on three Failure to Appear Warrants Deputies responded to a report of identity fraud Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 689 near Mena in reference to a trespasser Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney for further consideration of Cove was arrested on a warrant for Aggravated Assault and a warrant for three counts of 1st Degree Terroristic Threatening of Mena was arrested on a Theft of Property Warrant of Waldron was arrested on a Failure to Appear Warrant and on a Bond Revocation of Mena was arrested on four Failure to Appear Warrants Deputies responded to a report of a missing person Deputies responded to a report of a violation of a no contact order Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Rock Creek Lane near Mena in reference to a verbal altercation of DeQueen was arrested on a Harassment Warrant of Wickes was arrested on four Failure to Appear Warrants Deputies responded to a report of residential burglary Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to financial identity fraud Deputies responded to an address on Polk 44 near Mena in reference to a damaged mailbox Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Cobblestone Lane Near Mena in reference to a structure fire Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to child custody Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to property damage Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a vehicle accident of Mena was arrested on a Criminal Trespass Warrant and on a charge of Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Dallas Lane near Mena in reference to a physical altercation Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked 0 vehicle accidents this week Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 25 Incarcerated Inmates with 5 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility Sex Offender Registry Map – https://sexoffenderregistry.ar.gov/public Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Basatne Group has appointed Mohammad Sleiman as Chief Executive Officer of Basatne Group MENA This pivotal leadership transition marks a new chapter for the Group as it consolidates its regional footprint across operations and advance the Group’s commitment to building a greener With the UAE and wider GCC governments advancing national strategies focused on green technology and circular economy innovation Basatne’s leadership alignment reflects a proactive approach to capitalizing on regional momentum Sleiman’s appointment positions the Group at the forefront of this transformation Sleiman has already made a measurable impact on the circular economy landscape Cartlow enabled the recirculation of millions of devices to both consumers and businesses helping partners recover over AED 1 billion in resale value while preventing more than 30,000 tons of potential e-waste the equivalent of offsetting 57,000 tons of CO₂ emissions His pioneering work in integrating fintech-powered trade-in models and reverse logistics has set a new benchmark for sustainability-driven innovation in the MENA region His vision closely aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ESG goals “Mohammad has been instrumental in shaping the circular economy narrative in the region,” said Ammar Aboulnasr and scale has not only created tangible impact through Cartlow but has also laid the foundation for broader transformation His leadership is exactly what we need to unify our operations and lead the charge toward a more sustainable regional economy.” Mohammad Sleiman said: “I’m honored to step into this role at such a pivotal time as circularity transitions from concept to concrete action This next chapter is about scaling execution We’re bringing together a dynamic ecosystem of circular tech and data analytics to solve real-world challenges I’m excited to work with our teams and partners to shape a future where circularity drives both economic value and measurable environmental impact.” This appointment comes as regional governments double down on climate action With the UAE targeting Net Zero by 2050 and Saudi Arabia advancing its Vision 2030 objectives Basatne Group’s integrated approach is strongly aligned with national ambitions to build greener Basatne is a global leader in circular technology dedicated to reshaping the future of commerce Basatne is committed to delivering smarter more responsible trade solutions while driving innovation in the circular economy The press release is provided for informational purposes only legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability value or profitability of any particular security Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law its affiliates and the respective shareholders content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust Saudi Arabia ranked first among Middle East and North African countries in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) securing the top position for the third consecutive time with a high maturity rate of 96% in the overall assessment Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsuwaiyan stressed that this achievement reflects the significant support and interest that the wise leadership has given to the digital government ecosystem which has contributed to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position in international rankings He also highlighted the pivotal role of integration among government agencies their reliance on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence and the launch of initiatives and digital products aimed at improving the beneficiaries' experience Saudi Arabia has made significant progress since 2020 then taking the lead in 2022 and maintaining it in the 2023 and 2024 editions This progress is attributed to substantial improvements in digital services across vital sectors such as health appointment bookings through government platforms have improved access to services and increased beneficiary satisfaction including remote learning platforms and electronic university admissions have enhanced users' ability to access government services with flexibility and high quality Saudi Arabia outperformed 16 countries in the index which was based on the maturity assessment of 100 priority government services provided to individuals and the business sector through electronic portals and smart applications This was measured across three sub-indicators: a score of 99% in the Service Availability and Development indicator 93% in the Service Usage and Beneficiary Satisfaction indicator Microsoft pledged Wednesday to fight any US government order to halt data center operations in Europe as it sought to soothe concerns among European customers that trans-Atlantic tensions would lead to service disruptions said it's not something that officials are talking about in Washington but it is a “real concern” for Microsoft's customers across Europe President Donald Trump has stoked tensions between the US and Europe with his tariff-fueled trade war and alarmed European leaders with policy changes including pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine that throw into doubt his administration's commitment to the trans-Atlantic relationship tried to allay concerns as he announced that the company was expanding data center operations across Europe “What we want Europeans to know is that they can count on us,” he said in a speech “In the unlikely event we are ever ordered by any government anywhere in the world to suspend or cease cloud operations in Europe we are committing that Microsoft will promptly and vigorously contest such a measure using all legal avenues available including by pursuing litigation in court,” Smith wrote in a Wednesday blog post He noted that Microsoft has experience fighting lawsuits from the previous Trump administration as well as from former President Barack Obama’s administration “If we ever find ourselves losing we will put in place business continuity arrangements” that include storing computer code in Switzerland that European partners can access Microsoft is making five digital commitments to Europe including increasing its data center capacity by 40 in 16 countries over the next two years The expansion will cost tens of billions of dollars annually Smith declined to be more specific about the cost when asked by reporters The expansion comes amid calls for Europe to assert tech and data sovereignty by weaning itself off reliance from big US cloud data service providers we recognize that European governments likely will consider additional options,” and Microsoft is committed to collaborating with European companies Associate Vice-President and International Professor Applied development economist and Associate Faculty Member As part of his ‘America First’ policy and in an attempt to close the US trade deficit President Donald Trump announced sweeping trade tariffs targeting almost every country in the world Countries in the MENA region were affected differently by Trump’s increased tariffs and Saudi Arabia were subjected to the baseline 10% while Jordan and Morocco were hit with tariffs up to 20% and Iraq were hit with higher tariffs of 28-40% Trump’s tariffs caused initial shockwaves in the global financial markets before a 90-day suspension was put in place but Trump’s recent statements indicate that the suspension will likely be temporary The MENA region has already been impacted through a drop in oil prices and increases in production levels and a slowdown in investments and economic diversification which might also lead to spending cuts and increased taxation the region’s strategic positioning at the crossroads of global trade is likely to be affected by changes in the supply chains and trade volumes while the pegging of some MENA currencies to the dollar could raise inflation levels in those economies Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) is convening a panel of experts to discuss the details of Trump’s tariff policies and the ensuing global trade war and geostrategic developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region What formula was used to calculate the tariff rates for the Arab countries What are the short- and long-term implications of these tariffs on different countries in the MENA region What role do trade agreements between the US and Arab countries like Jordan play How do tariffs impacts countries under US sanctions like Syria What products are exempt from the new tariffs and how would that affect markets How would the 17% rate imposed on Israel impact US-Israeli relations How do we expect the Trump administration to proceed with these trade policies How would potential Ukraine-Russia and US-Iran agreements and lifting of sanctions impact the global and MENA markets What are the political and geostrategic implications of the resulting global trade war and increased Chinese influence Are there viable opportunities for Arab countries to benefit from diversified supply chains and increased local production and exports Featured image credit: Shutterstock/Noushad Thekkayil Get the latest news & updates from Arab Center ©2025 Arab Center Washington DC. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Policy | Built by Social Driver Arabic Nqoodlet, the Saudi-based fintech platform revolutionising SME financial management, has announced the successful close of its $3 million seed round. The round was led by Waad Investments, with participation from OmanTel, 500 Sanabil Investment, Oqal, Seed Holding and other strategic investors. Founded by Mohamed Milyani and Yara Ghouth, Nqoodlet is optimising financial operations for small and medium businesses across Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Its platform provides smart corporate cards, real-time expense tracking, financial automation, and a hub for SME services — all in one seamless ecosystem. Nqoodlet’s mission is simple yet ambitious: to eliminate financial chaos and help businesses focus on growth, not paperwork. Since launch, Nqoodlet has helped over 600 SMEs across the region achieve financial clarity. Clients using the platform have reported an 80% improvement in financial operations speed and, on average, 200,000 SAR in annual cost savings, totalling over SAR 80 million in collective expense management efficiencies. “SMEs here are not just underserved — they’ve been overlooked for too long. Nqoodlet is changing that. This funding gives us the rocket fuel to scale faster, go deeper with banks, and bring financial clarity to thousands of businesses who deserve better.” — Mohamed Milyani, CEO & Co-founder of Nqoodlet Nqoodlet’s Vision: Building the Financial Backbone of the GCC Financial operations are the backbone of every business — ensuring the ability to operate, grow, and create impact sustainably. Yet in GCC, SMEs still battle fragmented tools, outdated compliance processes, and overwhelming complexity. Nqoodlet is building the first true financial operating system for SMEs in the Middle East — empowering businesses with: At its core, Nqoodlet’s mission is not just to manage money — it’s to give businesses the clarity, control, and confidence to scale faster, stress less, and succeed bigger. “We chose to lead Nqoodlet’s seed round because we believe they are not just building a product — they are building an entirely new future for financial technology. Under the leadership of Mohamed Milyani and Yara Ghouth, the Nqoodlet team has successfully transformed the everyday challenges faced by SMEs into smart, advanced, and easy-to-use solutions. Their strong focus on product excellence, combined with their seamless integration of technology into financial operations, perfectly reflects the type of companies we seek to support. Today, Nqoodlet is on its way to becoming the leading innovator in the region, and we are excited to be part of this game-changing journey.” — Yasser Alghamdi, Chief Investment Officer of Waad Investment “This isn’t just a funding round. It’s a statement: GCC is ready for the next generation of fintech, and we’re paving the way. We’re here to make sure every business — from the smallest startup to the fastest-scaling SME — has access to financial tools that are fast, intuitive, and built for growth.” — Yara Ghouth, Co-founder of Nqoodlet. Sign up to receive our weekly digest of stories, op-eds, events and more updates. Thank you! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Saudi Arabia ranked first among Middle Eastern and North African countries in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) This marks the third consecutive time that Saudi Arabia has secured the top position achieving a maturity rate of 96 percent in the overall assessment Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsuwaiyan emphasized that this accomplishment reflects the substantial support and interest that the wise leadership has extended towards the digital government ecosystem This cmmitment has significantly bolstered Saudi Arabia’s standing in international rankings He also underscored the crucial role of integration among government agencies and the launch of initiatives and digital products aimed at enhancing the experience for beneficiaries Read more: Safeguarding the digital future of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides since 2020, starting in fourth place, advancing to second in 2021, and then claiming the lead in 2022, a position it has maintained in both the 2023 and 2024 editions. This progress is attributed to substantial enhancements in digital services across essential sectors such as health, education, and smart cities. Electronic healthcare solutions, including digital prescriptions, appointment bookings through government platforms, and telehealth services, have significantly improved access to services and increased beneficiary satisfaction. Furthermore, digital educational services, such as remote learning platforms and electronic university admissions, have enhanced users’ ability to access government services with flexibility and high quality. Saudi Arabia outperformed 16 countries in the index, which was based on the maturity assessment of 100 priority government services provided to individuals and the business sector through electronic portals and smart applications. This was evaluated across three sub-indicators: a score of 99 percent in the Service Availability and Development indicator, 93 percent in the Service Usage and Beneficiary Satisfaction indicator, and 99 percent in the Public Outreach indicator. Click Here for Video Highlights – Powered by a strong outing from Cristian Mena and a go-ahead grand slam from Trey Mancini the Reno Aces (15-13) put away the Sacramento River Cats (14-15) the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in dominant fashion in Tuesday’s series opener After a rough outing in his previous appearance Mena bounced back impressively against the River Cats allowing three runs over six innings with two walks and eight strikeouts It marked the third quality start of the season for the 22-year-old right-hander who now owns a 5.76 ERA with a league-leading 33 punchouts is scheduled to face Sacramento again in Sunday’s series finale Reno’s offense continued to hit the cover off the ball highlighted by Mancini’s game-altering grand slam in the fifth inning The veteran first baseman launched his fourth home run of the year over the left-center field wall turning on a Kai-Wei Teng sinker to give the Aces a sizable lead Mancini continues to prove his value at the plate 🚨 Trey Mancini Grand Slam 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ngA1137Pkl Top prospect Jordan Lawlar once again showed why he is one of the most talented players in baseball going 2-for-3 with his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season and two RBI The middle infielder got the Aces on the board in the first frame driving in Jake McCarthy with an RBI double then added a solo shot off Mason Black into the left-field bleachers Lawlar is now riding a 10-game hitting streak Jordan Lawlar says bye 👋His sixth of the year moves his average to .368 🤯@MiLB | @MLBPipeline | @Dbacks pic.twitter.com/pdTKDmGgUL Jake McCarthy added three base hits of his own the speedy outfielder has made an instant impact in the leadoff spot The Aces will look to carry this momentum into Wednesday’s matchup against the Sacramento River Cats with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m Single-game tickets are sold at RenoAces.com Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com AI workloads are fundamentally reshaping IT infrastructure The DCD>Connect | Compute event series helps the individuals meeting this challenge to make informed decisions faster technology-discovery and best-practice sharing set to share their vision for the hardware driving computing forward First class event that presented a wide variety of perspectives and technologies in an engaging and informative forum Husam leads the Systems Technology Team at Microsoft’s CO+I CTO Office focusing on vertical integration (sw-chip-server-datacenter) of next gen tech for cloud & AI hardware and infrastructure His team drives innovations across cooling sustainability & material technologies bringing them from incubation to production His work has received many recognitions including DCD Award for Mission Critical Tech Innovation & ASME InterPACK Outstanding Paper Award Husam has more than 70 publications and +120 filed/granted patents and he is a member of IEEE Robert Novo has in-depth experience in service delivery Robert is experienced with leading large team consulting projects managing shifting priorities and delivering on-time with quality to CxOs of Fortune 500 Stephanie serves as Vice President of Strategy at Flex Ltd developing and implementing growth strategies for the Communications holding leadership roles such as General Manager of Strategy and Market Analytics in the Data Center and AI Group where she focused on strategic planning for Xeon and Accelerator product lines as well as Senior Director of Product Sustainability Stephanie contributes to industry initiatives and speaks regularly at events on data center technology strategy She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Washington State University Ali Heydari is the Data Center Technologist at Nvidia the fastest growing AI-enabling technology company he is the data center technologist in charge of hardware and data center design with focus on liquid cooling of high heat density data centers and hardware products in mechanical engineering from University of Illinois in applied mathematics from University of California Jeff Wittich is the Chief Product Officer at Ampere Jeff has extensive leadership experience in the semiconductor industry in roles ranging from product and process development to business strategy to marketing he worked at Intel for 15 years in a variety of positions throughout the company he was responsible for the Cloud Service Provider Platform business and ultimately defining the products and platforms being used across the cloud worldwide Jeff also led a product development team responsible for 5 generations of Xeon processors He received an Intel Achievement Award for his work in developing the Custom CPU program Jeff has an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame Steve is a HPC and Open Source Analyst at Northrop Grumman Corporation He has expertise in technically oriented engineering and research with a focus on high performance computing and open source software implementation with application to internal processes and external business opportunities Elissa is a 25-year veteran of the critical facilities industry as a recognized critical facilities technologist and leader in this field delivering engineering services as a project lead and is a subject matter expert in the data center strategy commissioning and operations of critical computer networks cabling infrastructure as well as developing engineering databases As a technology consultant and a professional engineer Elissa participated and led over 160 major projects of varying facility types totaling around 20 million square feet of data processing critical facilities space At Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Center Facilities Elissa is a worldwide Distinguished Technologist and client consulting principal with a focus on the Technology Infrastructure practice he has the overarching responsibility for all the projects delivered for this specialty services He is also a core contributor to data center product development at HPE Elissa is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Delaware since 2004 Elissa is sought globally to provide strategic consulting to international enterprise organizations in a variety of industries such as financial services state and local governments & defense entities as well as Artificial Intelligence and high performance computing (HPC) Elissa received his Master of Science in Technology Management from the Stevens Institute of Technology in 2001 in Hoboken New Jersey and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Marquette University in 1997 in Milwaukee Christian Roth is an experienced Architect with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software and hardware industry in Architecture and Management positions for more then 30 years Skilled in building Cloud Data Centers (EN50600 Strong information technology professional graduated from University of applied sciences Fulda Today Christian is globally responsible for IT White space standardization including cabinets DC design blueprints and influences DC Strategy at SAP SE Global Cloud Services Prior to his SAP engagement he has worked in post sales Fujitsu SAP competence center and various management positions on regional and EMEA level Ronna Davis has been in the networking and telecommunication industry for 26 years She has been with CommScope for over 16 years and has held positions in product line management She is currently on CommScope's Strategy and Technology Team for Buildings and Campuses she worked in the design and construction of telecommunications networks for eight years and in wholesale distribution for two years Ronna holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing the UK organisation for the business of Open Technology: open source software open standards and open access AI - with a purpose of UK Leadership and Global Collaboration in Open Technology She is also the Executive Producer of State of Open Con 25 taking place 4 - 5 February 2025 in London and has produced 2023 and 24 events Appointed member of the Cabinet Office's Open Standards Board; and both UKRI’s UK Exascale Science and Industry Advisory Board and Digital Research Infrastructure Advisory Board she is a commercial Advisory Board Member at California Cyber Security company Mimoto and at the Scottish Geo Spatial Data company Space Aye She is also an Advisory Board Member of KDE and a European Representative of the Open Invention Network Amanda previously chaired the Open Source and IP Advisory Group of the United Nations Technology Innovation Labs; sat on the OASIS Open Projects Initiative; was a Member of the British Computer Society Inaugural Influence Board; and of the UK Government Energy Sector Digitalisation Task Force Advisory Board; as well as being an elected Board Member of the Open Source Initiative Formerly General Counsel of Canonical a role she held for 5 years from 2008 she set up and ran their legal function and has been part of the open source contributing community since Amanda is a judge in the IDG Foundry CIO 100 in 2023 and 2024 having been a Judge in the We are Tech Women Rising Star Awards in 2020-22 Listed as the 37th Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly in 2023 and in Computing’s IT Leaders 100 2023 and the INvolve HERoes list of 100 global women executives driving change by example in 2022 -23 She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Women Influence & Power in Law Awards UK in 2022 A regular contributor to the tech press, she is the editor of Open Source Law, Policy and Practice (2nd edition) published by Oxford University Press in October 2022, with open access thanks to the Vietsch Foundation https://amandabrock.com/books linkedin.com/in/amandabrocktech https://openuk.uk/ https://amandabrock.com/ The data center would be powered by renewable energy and utilize backup batteries Restrictions would be in the interest of national security Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia If you're seeing this message, that means JavaScript has been disabled on your browser. Please enable JavaScript to make this website work. the 13th edition of Fi Africa and ProPak MENA will occur from June 2 to 4 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center Held under the Ministries of Trade & Industry and the Ministry of Environment's patronage and supported by a host of international and regional partners the event comes at a pivotal time when innovation is critical to boosting production and competitiveness This is especially significant as Egypt’s food market grew by 35% in 2024 with forecasts estimating it will reach USD 125.4 billion by 2028 In line with global trends toward sustainability and supply chain efficiency the exhibition offers a strategic platform for market expansion and export development These include collaborations with the Ministries of Trade and Industry and the Environment as well as global organizations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) the Middle East and North Africa Food Safety Associates (MEFOSA) the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) the Arab Health Development Organization (AHDO) the Chamber of Printing and Packaging Industries (CPPI) This year marks the largest edition in the history of both exhibitions and Jordan—alongside more than 16,000 professional visitors and decision-makers reinforcing Egypt’s position as a leading regional hub for food manufacturing stated: "Egypt’s unique strategic location alongside a packaging industry valued at $4.8 billion and more than 17,000 companies operating in the food manufacturing sector positions the country as a key driver of industrial growth in the region and reinforce Egypt’s position as a central hub within global supply chains while also advancing the transition toward sustainable manufacturing and launching innovative initiatives with long-term regional and international impact." Exhibition Director of Fi Africa and ProPak MENA said: "Egypt’s selection as the regional arm for two major global exhibitions highlights its role as a gateway to Africa with the event aiming to introduce global trends to manufacturers and advance sustainability and food waste reduction through innovative packaging technologies.” This year’s edition will serve as a marketplace for the latest FMCG products and services catering to the full spectrum of the FMCG supply chain while attracting a wide range of industry stakeholders and reinforcing the event’s role as a strategic hub The FI Africa and ProPak MENA Conference this year will be held under the theme "The African Food and Packaging Value Chain Conference," in collaboration with the UNIDO and packaging industries from raw materials to the shelves The agenda includes a variety of activities aimed at supporting the growth of food and beverage manufacturing and boosting exports through education and training It will host panel discussions on value chains and the challenges facing the sector in Africa The event will feature a roundtable on food waste reduction and food security alongside specialized training in gelato production and baking It will also host the Annual Gathering for Women in F&B with all activities aiming to empower industry professionals and boost product competitiveness in local and regional markets Both Fi and ProPak are part of globally recognized event series—Fi held in 11 countries and ProPak in 6 demonstrating their global strength and trust Egypt’s selection as the regional hub supports Informa Markets’ strategy to empower local industries with the exhibitions aiming to drive investment and position Egypt as a key player in global food manufacturing This article is an excerpt from the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum’s recently published policy paper on UK AI Diplomacy and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for producing green energy systems and advanced technologies They are also the building blocks of computer hardware and data centres which are vital for the development and scaling of AI technologies While deposits of these vital resources are dispersed across multiple geographies, their production is concentrated in the hands of several key players[i]: Australia accounts for more than half of the world’s lithium supply South Africa for more than 70% of platinum and responsibility for international markets Beyond the Gulf, Morocco is a leading player in the global phosphate industry[xii]—a critical mineral for battery manufacturing and agriculture—holding about 70% of the world’s estimated reserves and ranking as the world’s largest producer The Moroccan economy relies heavily on its minerals sector which makes up nearly a quarter of its exports and accounts for 10% of its GDP and economic partnerships to remove supply chain obstacles and ensure frictionless trade For the UK to capitalise on these opportunities and reduce Chinese influence in Middle Eastern ‘swing states’ it should strategically invest in the region’s minerals sector Bilateral Partnerships in Critical Minerals allowing resource-rich countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to identify and develop their reserves more effectively Saudi Arabia is already exploring AI integration in mineral exploration and the UK could enhance these efforts by integrating its advanced tech industry which has committed to a 100 billion USD (76.4 billion GBP) investment in its mining sector as part of its Vision 2030 plan in order to access larger capital pools and share financial risks The fund could also support regional innovation in this sphere investing in start-ups and joint ventures that utilise AI technologies for critical minerals and mining efforts A UK-MENA investment fund would create a unified bloc in the critical minerals sector that would benefit partners’ overall trade and investment strategies At the height of a global AI arms race and clean energy transition the UK is in a pivotal moment to proactively advance its strategic interests through AI diplomacy in energy and technology Answers to its domestic energy challenges and broader geopolitical interests can both be found in the MENA region support two of the UK’s most ambitious objectives: becoming a clean energy and AI superpower They offer valuable propositions in critical minerals and clean energy systems—three necessities for a clean energy transformation we use cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions Neutrality between US and China may come under pressure While the immediate effects of sweeping US tariffs will fall hardest on major exporters such as China and the European Union the Middle East and North Africa region will not be untouched The impacts may be delayed and mostly indirect but they will test the region’s resilience in the year ahead At first glance, most MENA economies appear insulated The US is not a major trading partner for much of the region only around 5% of MENA exports go to the US which are typically exempt from tariff measures send just 2% to 4% of their exports to the US most of it in hydrocarbons that avoid tariff coverage the region seems unlikely to face immediate disruption Trade policies of this scale rarely stay contained Protectionism disrupts global supply chains shifts investment flows and generates market uncertainty that ripples well beyond the countries directly involved especially those that rely heavily on hydrocarbons and global capital are acutely sensitive to these second-order effects A drop in prices complicates budget execution slows project delivery and increases pressure on public finances more vulnerable economies like Bahrain or Oman would be even more pronounced When large markets such as the US raise tariffs exporters seek alternative destinations for their goods That includes regions with open trade regimes and few restrictions – precisely the profile of the Gulf Cooperation Council Chinese manufacturers facing reduced access to the US may begin offloading excess inventory to Gulf markets even if it means accepting slimmer margins or losses The region experienced it in 2017 when Chinese steel found its way into Gulf markets and undercut local producers There is a risk of history repeating itself this time across a broader range of sectors Some countries will be hit harder than others Some countries in the region face more concentrated exposure Jordan sends over a quarter of its exports to the US with apparel and garments making up the majority Tariffs could undercut the competitive edge Jordanian producers hold reducing orders and putting employment in export-dependent sectors at risk countries like Türkiye may find narrow advantages US tariffs on EU and Chinese goods could make Turkish products more competitive in the American market Combined with diversified exports and the possibility of strengthened trade ties with Europe Türkiye could manage to position itself more favourably Morocco may also see some balance sheet relief from lower oil prices But this would be offset if trade tensions cause broader pressure on global demand for commodities like phosphates and fertilisers Yet this period of disruption could also bring opportunity The GCC’s geography has long made it a key node in global trade dating back to its role on the ancient Silk Road That legacy still shapes its positioning today the region’s strategic location is once more a strength There is growing potential to deepen intra-regional trade enhance links with emerging markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and expand trade relations with India These shifts not only open new markets for Gulf exporters but also offer avenues for greater resilience The region is increasingly investing in digital infrastructure logistics and alternative payment systems that can reduce reliance on traditional financial channels These developments could help mitigate external shocks and allow for more autonomous economic positioning these dynamics suggest a region that will not feel the initial shock of US tariffs MENA’s exposure lies not in direct trade volumes but in the fragility of the global environment that sustains its economies It has so far maintained a careful balance growing ties with both Washington and Beijing while steering clear of hard alignment But as the global trading system becomes more fractured that neutrality may come under increasing pressure The question now is whether that stance can hold in a world where trade is increasingly weaponised If policy-makers can seize new openings while preparing for external shocks the Middle East may emerge not only resilient Join OMFIF on 24 June for the launch of Global Public Investor 2025 Interested in this topic? Subscribe to OMFIF’s newsletter for more. You will receive an email confirming your registration. Non-resident fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs and Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Joint MBA-MA candidate, INSEAD and Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic. Amr Hamzawy is a senior fellow and the director of the Carnegie Middle East Program. His research and writings focus on governance in the Middle East and North Africa, social vulnerability, and the different roles of governments and civil societies in the region. Sarah Yerkes is a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program, where her research focuses on Tunisia’s political, economic, and security developments as well as state-society relations in the Middle East and North Africa. Frederic Wehrey Frederic Wehrey is a senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Council on Global Affairs and Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Aisha Al-Sarihi is a political scientist with over a decade of research expertise in the policy politics and governance of climate change and energy transition with a specific focus on the Gulf Arab states Al-Sarihi is currently a non-resident fellow at both the Middle East Council on Global Affairs and the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington INSEAD and Johns Hopkins University Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Selma Khalil is a dual-degree MBA-MA candidate at INSEAD & Johns Hopkins Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies specializing in economic development with a particular interest in leveraging financing solutions and policy strategies to accelerate decarbonization PFL MENA Featherweight Champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani faces Islam Reda in the Main Event Featherweights and Lightweights face off in all-important Quarterfinal matches Featherweight Quarter-Final bout:Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) vs Islam Reda (12-1)Lightweight Quarter-Final bout:Mohsen Mohammadseifi (7-2) vs 1 NC)Lightweight Quarter-Final bout:Salah Eddine Hamli (8-0) vs Abbas Khan (8-3)Featherweight Quarter-Final bout:Izzedine Al Derbani (15-5) vs Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3)Flyweight Showcase bout:Malik Basahel (0-0) vs Mountasser Boutouta (1-0)Featherweight Quarter-Final bout:Abdelrahman Alyhasat (5-0) vs Taha Bendaoud (4-0)Featherweight Quarter-Final bout:Hussein Salem (12-5) vs Assem Ghanem (6-0)Lightweight Quarter-Final bout:Georges Eid (10-5 Mohammad Fahmi (4-0)Lightweight Showcase bout:Ahmed Makki (1-3-1) vs Hasham Elnamer (3-0)Lightweight Quarter-Final bout:Abdullah Saleem (5-0 Souhil Tairi (7-6-1)Featherweight Showcase bout:Youssef Alhosani (4-1) vs Neder Jeffel (2-0)Amateur Catchweight 166lbs Showcase bout:Abdulaziz Bin Moammar (10-3 AM) vs Tickets can be purchased at Webook.ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUEProfessional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide PFL is the only in MMA with the “win and advance” format PFL is broadcast and streamed to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ MMA is the growth sport business of this decade Phil Davis punches his ticket to Semifinals with right-hand KO Valentin Moldavsky survives early scare to reach Semifinals puts on strong performance with grappling expertise in split decision victory Simeon Powell unleashes fury with a second-round finish Alexandr Romanov squeezes his way into a submission win and Semifinals spot Oleg Popov’s grappling and takedowns leads him to narrow victory Sullivan Cauley goes from being taken down to elbowing his way into the Light Heavyweight Semifinals Rodrigo Nascimento edges out a split decision in back-and-forth battle to score semifinals spot PFL World Tournament First Round Betting Insights 5/1 VOTE NOW: Top Five 2025 PFL World Championship Tournament Finishes (So Far) How to Watch PFL World Tournament Week 4: Light Heavyweights & Heavyweights Take Center Stage FRENCH FOOTBALL ICON PATRICE EVRA SET TO MAKE MMA DEBUT AT PFL EUROPE PARIS AT THE ACCOR ARENA ON 23.. © 2025 professional fighters league | all rights reserved Al Hammadi has won youth world championships in MMA and Brazilian Jiu JitsuAl Hammadi will compete in amateur showcase bouts inside the world-famous PFL SmartCage 2025) - The Professional Fighters League (PFL) the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league in the world announced the signing of Zamzam Al Hammadi a fast-rising Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star from the United Arab Emirates.“I’m happy that I’ve signed with PFL MENA and it’s a pleasure for me to be part of the PFL family,” said Al Hammadi “I’m happy to represent my country on a global stage like the PFL and Inshallah God will help me to achieve all my dreams.”The 17-year old Al Hammadi is a decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA competitor with championship victories at the IMMAF Youth World Championships and the JJIF World Youth Championships in 2023 She currently has a 2-0 record in amateur MMA.Al Hammadi comes from a family of martial artists while her sister Ghala is also a decorated grappler and MMA fighter.“We’re thrilled to bring in one of the fastest rising young stars not just in the Middle East but also in the world Zamzam already has world championship experience and we’re excited to have her on the PFL MENA roster One of the goals of PFL MENA is to be able to showcase homegrown talent who’s going to be a huge inspiration to all the aspiring young talents from the UAE and the Middle East We cannot wait to see what she can do inside the world-famous PFL SmartCage.”Al Hammadi is expected to showcase her world-class skills in amateur showcase bouts in the upcoming PFL MENA season She follows in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s Hattan Alsaif who became the first female from the country to sign with a major MMA promotion in 2024 {{{ data.post_type_label }}}{{{ data.meta }}}{{{ data.post_date_formatted }}} {{{ data._snippetResult['content'].value }}} We use both persistent and session cookies on our website to be sure promotions are not re-displayed to users who have already seen them We also use cookies set by a third party analytics service to measure traffic and collect statistics about users’ devices and browsers Naseem Tarawnah Protesters hold portraits of Palestinian journalists who are still alive and working in Gaza during an appeal by journalists’ unions to pay tribute to the many journalists killed in Gaza by Israeli troops since October 2023 Telmo Pinto/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images As Palestinian journalists face deadly assaults and exiled Sudanese media confront threats the fight for press freedom grows more urgent IFEX members join regional civil society groups in demanding stronger protections and a united front against the ceaseless tide of digital and physical silencing Palestinian journalists have endured extreme risks during over 18 months of targeting by Israeli forces in Gaza, and April saw further assaults on their lives. In April, IFEX member MADA condemned an Israeli drone strike on a journalists’ tent in Khan Yunis that killed Helmy al-Faqawi and injured nine colleagues Rights groups continue to push for accountability and stronger safeguards amid the rising death toll of media workers and civilians, with Reporters Without Borders recently demanding an end to the massacre of Palestinian journalists and Israel’s amassing impunity Inside Israel, Palestinian journalists also face severe restrictions, including arbitrary arrests and equipment seizures. Notably, the February arrest of sports journalist Saeed Hasanein charged with “contact with a foreign agent,” exemplifies Israel’s growing repression of Arab reporters IFEX member the Arab Center for Media Freedom Development and Research (I’lam) called Saeed’s arrest a “dangerous escalation in the targeting of journalists in general and a restriction on press freedom in the country.” Concerned that Israel’s punitive NGO taxation, criminal penalties for ICC cooperation, and restrictive registration rules are dismantling civil society, over 30 Palestinian NGOs issued an open letter on 3 April They called on international partners to condition diplomatic ties on the protection of Palestinian civil society Amid these threats, MADA’s “Safe Space” workshop in Ramallah on 23 April provided training to 50 media professionals on psychological first aid and stress management The workshop emphasized mental resilience as a crucial component in safeguarding independent journalism Following the brief kidnapping of Suwayda’s transport director, residents in Syria’s Suwayda province rallied in Al-Karama Square demanding a UN-backed transitional justice law and accountability for abductions They rejected impunity and recalled the regime’s February shutdown of a transitional justice conference The protest underscored growing local pressure to address wartime crimes and restore the rule of law SCM was named the 2025 recipient of the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award from enduring raids and torture in Damascus to pioneering strategic litigation that led to France’s historic arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad in 2023 Last month saw more than 60 civil society and media groups demand an end to legal harassment of online media outlets Daraj and Megaphone accused of undermining economic confidence and receiving foreign funds Both outlets have reported extensively on corruption linked to the 2019 financial collapse The signatories urged authorities to stop SLAPP-style lawsuits The Freedom of Opinion and Expression Coalition also condemned coordinated smear campaigns by outlets like the Lebanese broadcaster MTV accusing them of spreading disinformation to discredit independent media and deflect attention from demands for accountability and reform Human Rights Watch warned that the cybercrime bureau and public prosecutors had summoned Daraj Megaphone and Kulluna Irada under vague defamation and security laws It called on Lebanon’s new government to affirm free expression and align legislation with international standards A new report from IFEX member Social Media Exchange (SMEX) reveals how digital repression in Lebanon stifles feminist activism and patriarchal surveillance contributing to the silencing of women’s voices online and unified efforts to reclaim digital spaces Amid the growing threats to the country’s press, another IFEX member – Maharat Foundation – won Silver at Dubai Lynx 2025 for “Their Final Shot,” a campaign honouring journalists killed during the Israeli war on Lebanon by preserving their final images as powerful reminders of the cost of truth Press freedom has collapsed in the war-torn nation. Over 400 journalists have fled into exile since April 2023, spawning at least ten Sudanese exiled outlets from Cairo to Kampala Reporters Without Borders lauded their resilience Atrocities extend beyond the assaults on media. An Amnesty report has documented horrific and widespread use of sexual violence by the RSF between April 2023 and October 2024 Rights groups warn that blocked aid the mass displacement of nearly 13 million and impunity for mass atrocities imperil all Sudanese urging the EU to tie diplomatic and development aid to robust protections for journalists and credible accountability for perpetrators marking another dangerous escalation against legal defenders Recent weeks saw appeals judges reclassify commentator Sonia Dahmani’s prison-condition remarks as a felony under cybercrime law, risking a ten-year term. CPJ has denounced this as an escalation and is demanding her immediate release urging Bahrain to cease reprisals and ensure his full reintegration Libya: The Tripoli Internal Security Agency closed ten international NGOs aiding migrants and refugees accusing them without evidence of “hostile acts” and demographic manipulation in a xenophobic campaign that undermines civil society and jeopardizes humanitarian assistance GCHR condemns the sham trial as a tool to silence dissent and calls for the immediate release of arbitrarily sentenced defendants and urgent reforms to ensure fair trials Authorities have designated as “terrorist” 11 dissidents and their relatives and 8 companies reflecting the country’s indiscriminate use of overbroad counterterrorism laws and contempt for due process SCM provides critical insight into the trial of ex-Jaysh Al Islam official Majdi Nema in France marking a key step toward justice and accountability for the 2013 enforced disappearance of Syrian human rights defenders Get the latest free expression news delivered straight to your inbox disclose or otherwise provide your data to any outside organisation You can change your subscription preferences or unsubscribe at any time add info@ifex.org to your safe senders list IFEX publishes original and member-produced free expression news and reports Some member content has been edited by IFEX We invite you to contact media@ifex.org to request permission to reproduce or republish in whole or in part content from this site WHO is conducting a series of technical webinars on various climate change and health topics with the aim of building capacity for implementation at country level interactive activities and group discussion. The first series of webinars will explore specific topics related to: Concept Note Recordings Slide deck Getting started: climate change and health vulnerability & adaptation assessments WHO as an Accredited Implementing Entity of the Adaptation Fund; Accessing AF funding for Climate Change and Health WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Health Systems Developing a Health National Adaptation Plan: Introduction GIS and risk mapping in climate change and health vulnerability & adaptation assessments Climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities Quantitative approaches for Vulnerability & Adaptation assessments: sensitivity analyses and projecting future health risks of climate change Integrating health in NDCs Developing a Health National Adaptation Plan: Quality criteria for HNAPs Gender, climate change and health WHO support for GCF country driven programming for the health sector: AFRO/EMRO (MENA) Regions WHO is conducting a series of technical webinars on various climate change and health topics with the aim of building capacity for implementation at country level Concept Note Recordings Slide deck Getting started: climate change and health vulnerability & adaptation assessments WHO as an Accredited Implementing Entity of the Adaptation Fund; Accessing AF funding for Climate Change and Health WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Health Systems Developing a Health National Adaptation Plan: Introduction GIS and risk mapping in climate change and health vulnerability & adaptation assessments Climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities Quantitative approaches for Vulnerability & Adaptation assessments: sensitivity analyses and projecting future health risks of climate change Integrating health in NDCs Developing a Health National Adaptation Plan: Quality criteria for HNAPs Gender, climate change and health WHO Country support on climate change and health Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) we at the World Bank reflect on the progress and advancements women are making across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region Women have one more year of school-adjusted learning than men and they are getting higher degrees (43% of women vs 39% of men enrolled in tertiary education) they still face barriers that makes entering and staying in the labor market a challenge These barriers include access to affordable and safe childcare access to affordable and safe transportation which limits their mobility and opportunities There are also legal restrictions and social norms affecting women’s choices and ability to work outside the home as well as gender-based violence that continues to affect their lives MENA holds the world’s lowest female labor force participation rate at 19% compared to a global average of 48% the Bank is supporting the bold objective of Jordan’s Vision for Economic Modernization to double the country’s female labor force participation rate from 14 to 28% by 2033 the Bank has supported access to private equity for hundreds of women-led startups and small and medium enterprises as well as provide business skills training. supported by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program to boost women’s participation in the energy sector with the ultimate goal to increase female labor force participation The action plan focuses on five priority areas that address critical barriers to their inclusion: We envision a world where these changes can take hold and deliver real results our aim is to support countries as they work to ensure that women can earn fair wages and access leadership opportunities We want to see entrepreneurship flourishing because financial institutions invest in women-led businesses and there are mentors guiding aspiring women leaders We want to see legal reforms protecting women’s rights to property and communities all need to work together to accelerate women’s economic participation. Our Regional Gender Action Plan emphasizes collaboration and stronger accountability mechanisms to track progress we call on everyone to take action to promote inclusivity—to mentor young girls and advocate for policies that dismantle barriers to women’s empowerment Helping women advance isn’t just about economic success; it is about creating a better future for everyone We are determined to work hard across the region to make that future a reality. Thank you for choosing to be part of the Arab Voices community The latest blog posts and blog-related announcements will be delivered directly to your email inbox Regional Director for Human Development in Middle East and North Africa Region Finance and Institutions (EFI) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region The festival 2025 lineup features Shabjdeed considered the largest and longest-running music festival in Europe has revealed the full lineup for its 2025 edition The festival is headlined by some global icons such as Fontaines D.C vsNCAA Indoor Championships Mena Scatchard Races To Runner-Up Finish In Mile At NCAA Indoor Championships March 15 The Trump administration’s tariff regime intended to boost US manufacturing and inflict punitive damage on Chinese manufacturing has disrupted multiple industrial supply chains into the US with cascading effects across other regions For the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s oilfield services (OFS) sector the effects are indirect but may be significant if unmitigated by national oil companies (NOCs) and OFS suppliers these companies can pivot sourcing to take advantage of foreign sources looking for new customers – in particular China – and strengthening local supplier output By taking strategic action to alter procurement patterns operators and service companies can expand capacity and avoid inflated operational costs. Senior Analyst – Middle East and North Africa Supply Chain Research at Rystad Energy ShareXUS tariffs: A boon for MENA oilfield service providers For the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s oilfield services (OFS) sector these companies can pivot sourcing to take advantage of foreign sources looking for new customers – in particular China – and strengthening local supplier output operators and service companies can expand capacity and avoid inflated operational costs The US has rolled out a portfolio of tariffs but the most impactful to the oil and gas industry are revisions to steel duties which have eliminated country-based quotas and exemptions and reciprocal tariffs which impose at minimum 10% general import tariffs and up to 125% for China These new fees have disrupted sourcing of key materials including OCTG leading marginal cost increases in some categories but also dramatically higher premiums in others US E&Ps and suppliers have responded by shifting sourcing to lower tariff nations like India and stockpiling during windows of lower rates In most cases where additional costs are unlikely to be absorbed by customers US weighted service companies will feel pressure on margins causing them to increasingly deploy resources into international markets What hurts US companies in this case can benefit the MENA region as Asian pipe mills free up productive capacity and Chinese part suppliers go seeking new customers Regional OFS players such as TAQA (Industrialization & Energy Services Co.) and Arabian Drilling are uniquely positioned to benefit from these supply crunches and pricing bottlenecks currently affecting global providers One key advantage lies in their localized supply chains and maintenance operations which are inherently more resilient and flexible compared to the globally dispersed procurement and manufacturing networks of international competitors While global suppliers face increased exposure to geopolitical tensions regional players can more effectively navigate these challenges due to their proximity to major clients and ability to guarantee last-mile delivery This advantage also enables them to offer shorter lead times for delivering equipment and services helping to avoid delays that could cause non-productive time and cost overruns on high-value projects and drilling campaigns and shorter lead times (if local capacity constraints are not an issue) could lead to more profitable call-out contracts which typically replace underperforming competitors which are at least 20%–50% more profitable than legacy sourcing agreements This is good news for MENA-based operators who stand to benefit from these market shifts by securing more competitive pricing partly offsetting the top-line impact of oil price declines Reduced pricing has become a theme across the MENA OFS landscape prompting several lump sum turnkey (LSTK) contracts to be tendered Notable examples include those awarded to Sinopec and SLB in Kuwait this year as well as a potential 80-well campaign announced by the Jordanian Ministry of Energy UAE NOC ADNOC has steadily expanded the use of integrated service contracts growing from 35% in 2022 to 47% across its onshore and offshore assets this year and further evidenced by ADNOC Drilling signing a $1.63 billion five-year contract with ADNOC Offshore for integrated drilling services on April 17 Saudi Aramco is also increasing the utilization of this model with 14% of active rigs currently operating under integrated service contracts signaling a regional shift toward more efficient and cost-effective operations in the OFS sector not all OFS players have been negatively impacted by the tariffs The Middle Eastern rig market has remained relatively cushioned which is continuing its planned rig ramp up with approximately 50 rigs $291 million contract with Aramco for a jack-up rig a reversal from the suspensions seen this time last year Arguably the most significant impact has been the boost to regional localization frameworks Trumpian tariffs indirectly validated the industrial policies of governments like Saudi Arabia’s In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) and the UAE’s In-Country Value (ICV) programs - both designed to increase domestic content in energy sector procurement Saudi Aramco embedded localization metrics into tender evaluations through IKTVA Multinational players like Baker Hughes and Schlumberger which set up high-value manufacturing centers in Dhahran Techno Valley and King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) received preferential scoring and early visibility into bid pipelines These global firms often partnered with local players such as Zamil Offshore and TAQA (through subcontract awards) - established Saudi entities with IKTVA credentials - to strengthen their domestic value-add TAQA has also ramped up local rig refurbishment and directional drilling services to capitalize on Aramco’s drive for localized upstream support ADNOC’s ICV program shifted procurement policies to strengthen local supplies and suppliers which also encouraged international firms to localize their manufacturing and maintenance illustrated by Halliburton’s decision to establish a cementing additives plant in Abu Dhabi’s ICAD II industrial zone The result is a shifting competitive landscape: companies with regional repair or R&D capacity are now structurally advantaged in NOC bidding processes US tariffs have disrupted the oilfield supply chain leading to higher costs to operators in some categories and margin pressure on OFS companies This will open up spare capacity in China and among other Asian suppliers which may lead to better pricing for MENA companies Regional service providers stand to benefit with more insulation against global trade disruptions and local content programs will further demonstrate the value of local manufacturing and service capacity The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has a large reservoir of untapped human resources with the world’s highest unemployment rate among youth and the lowest participation of females in the labor force and private employment is overwhelmingly of low added value If you think that you’ve read this sentence before, it’s probably because you have. It opens a 2013 World Bank report on jobs in MENA Syria and Yemen have been plagued by conflict and fragility Lebanon first flourished and then plunged into one of the deepest recessions in recent history Notwithstanding fiscal and current account imbalances countries such as Jordan and Egypt have grown steadily; Morocco has led the pack in integrating in global value chains GCC countries embarked on a diversification journey; a new devastating conflict erupted in 2023 reshaping geopolitical equilibria in the Levant and beyond oil prices took large dips (2015) and soared to unexpected highs (2022); automation changed who does what in the world of work and the emergence of big tech redesigned the private sector landscape A pandemic swept the world. Generative AI is now capable of discovering new molecules And yet those 2013 summary diagnostics for MENA are still valid now: youth unemployment is 25 percent female labor force participation remains the lowest in the world. As the President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga has highlighted job creation is the most effective way to defeat poverty Jobs are key to unlocking the potential: they empower women and give hope to younger generations With 54 percent of its people below the age of 30 MENA could reap a demographic dividend if it were to secure peace and take important structural reforms head on. One statistic to put this into perspective: in MENA by 2050 (about 25 years away from today) nearly 300 million young people will be looking for a job the private sector is the main engine of job creation But what will it take for the private sector to grow and generate high productivity jobs in MENA? Take education and labor force participation With 60 percent of the population now with at least a lower secondary education degree, the region has experienced a 40 percent increase in the average years of schooling in the past 20 years the fastest improvement in the world. How will curricula need to evolve to empower young people with the appropriate skills to sustain a dynamic private sector and to foster innovation? primarily because of low female labor force participation equalizing the employment rate between male and female can deliver in the long run a GDP per capita that is 50 percent higher What changes – including in availability and affordability of child and elderly care in regulatory barriers – can materialize those gains Another challenge is widespread informality informal employment accounted for 69 percent of total employment in 2018 The picture is even more grim when these are benchmarked against private sector employment. About 86 percent of all private sector employment is informal in Egypt; Morocco and Jordan are not far with 84 percent and 75 percent and pension systems design can support dynamic labor markets while protecting workers from risk? what policies will effectively support diversification away from hydrocarbons towards job-rich growth in oil-rich countries? Against the backdrop of large spatial inequalities and limited internal mobility how can cities provide the necessary ecosystems to sustain robust growth in manufacturing and services with resource-rich and resource-poor countries countries that are net sources of migration and countries with small native populations that instead need immigration increasing fragility and devastating humanitarian crises unfolding side by side to some of the richest societies in the world no one-size-fits-all solution will magically create the jobs needed to sustain growth and make it an inclusive process. But the very reasons that make it difficult to find the silver bullet for a jobs agenda in MENA are the ones that make this region a unique laboratory for new ideas we intend to open a platform for discussion to crowd in solutions from different sectors and vantage points on what it takes to create jobs in MENA Amman - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that IATA Aviation Day Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will focus on digitalization modern airline retailing and future skills “Aviation is a catalyst for economic and social development —boosting trade Economies and societies across the MENA region are benefitting from the fast pace of growth which will see a doubling of passenger traffic by 2040 The region can maximize the impact of this potential growth by focusing efforts on the enablers of future success which are digitalization modern airline retailing and future skills development This will be the first Aviation Day MENA to take place in Saudi Arabia It’s fitting that the event is being held in a country where aviation is recognized as a critical enabler of economic growth and modernization,” said Kamil Alawadhi IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East “We are honored to welcome industry leaders to Jeddah at a time of unprecedented growth and transformation in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector IATA Aviation Day MENA is a valuable platform to showcase how Saudi Vision 2030 is shaping the future of aviation not only across the Kingdom but the region and beyond We look forward to engaging with our aviation partners to exchange ideas and strengthen the region’s position as a leading hub connecting East and West,” said H.E IATA’s Senior Vice-President Operations Safety and Security will be speaking at the event They will be joined by a lineup of industry leaders including: The conference will feature keynote speeches panel discussions and presentations addressing: > Learn more about Aviation Day MENA Tel: +41 22 770 2967 Email: corpcomms@iata.org www.airlines.iata.org We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. We also use cookies for advertising purposes. Please see our privacy policy and cookies policy for complete information. Markets & Policy Events Follow Mercom India on WhatsApp for exclusive updates on clean energy news and insights Japanese solar engineering, procurement, and construction company Nippon Energy announced its plans to launch a solar module manufacturing facility in Dubai The facility will produce 1 GW of modules annually Nippon Energy also acquired a solar panel manufacturing unit in Dubai TotalEnergies and Zahid Group’s joint venture, Safeer, signed a power purchase agreement with Golden Chicken to install a solar power project at its site in Saudi Arabia The project will have a capacity of 5.18 MW It will comprise 8,160 solar modules paired with inverters to ensure optimal energy conversion the companies will install a solar tracking system that allows the panels to follow the sun’s path throughout the day Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar projects at the Ras Laffan Industrial City the two projects will increase Qatar’s solar energy production to 1.675 MW The projects aim to help achieve one of QatarEnergy’s Sustainability Strategy goals of generating more than 4,000 MW of renewable energy by 2030 Independent renewable energy company Qair secured key authorizations for its Tetouan wind and Tiznit solar projects in Morocco With a cumulative output of 505 GWh annually the two projects will supply clean energy to Moroccan industries The projects were approved by the country’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development PREVALL POSTS NEXT RELATED POSTS please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription.