Category: Middle East/Asia

High Commissioner urges Ghana to look beyond the west for economic solutions

Source: Anass Sabit, KUALA LUMPUR , 26 June 2026 11:16am Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Florence B. Akonor, has called on the country to reduce its over-reliance on Western economic models and instead draw lessons from Asia’s development success stories. According to her, Ghana must learn from Malaysia’s discipline, policy consistency and long-term vision if it is to overcome its current economic challenges. The remarks were made on the fourth day of an intensive five-day training and study tour in Kuala Lumpur, where Ghana’s top financial regulators are studying Malaysia’s globally The…

Dubai Woodshow 2026…An expose on how Technologies is Shaping Global Timber Trade

With just three days remaining until the opening of Dubai WoodShow 2026, the global wood and woodworking machinery industry is preparing to convene in Dubai for a business focused edition highlighting the technologies reshaping timber trade. Taking place from 22 to 24 June 2026 at the world Trade Center, the exhibition brings together more than 400 exhibitors, over 600 international brands, 5 international country pavilions, and participation from more than 45 countries. At the center of these industry shifts, Dubai WoodShow serves as a strategic platform for exploring the innovations…

Global Wood & Wood Products Market hits $962 Billion

….As Innovation in Smart Manufacturing and Material Surges The global woodworking industry is entering a new era of transformation, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced material innovation; technologies that are redefining how wood products are designed, processed, and delivered at scale,according to a recent official statement issued in Dubai,by the event organizer,Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. This transformation the statement noted, is unfolding alongside strong market growth. The global woodworking machinery market projected to reach $6.1 billion by 2027 reflecting rising demand from construction, furniture, and industrial…

Promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution…CIBAFI-OIC Arbitration Centre Signs MOU

In a strategic step reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening stability and legal governance in the Islamic finance sector, the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) an official statement disclosed on Sunday. The Memorandum of Understanding,the statement said, was signed on 4 June 2026 during the opening ceremony of the recently held 3rd Global Islamic Economy Summit in Istanbul, under the esteemed patronage of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic…

Using Banana Waste for Accelerating Industrialization…Circularity in Action

By Adrian Villellas,First Published On: May 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM What if the leftovers from your breakfast banana ended up in your T‑shirt, your notebook or even a fruit tray at the supermarket? That idea is moving from curiosity to reality as factories learn how to turn banana pseudostems into a standardized raw material for textiles, paper and bio‑based composites. Studies of circularity in banana farming show that only a small share of the plant becomes food. The rest is biomass that usually stays in the field or is removed as…

31st IRENA Council Ushers New Era of Global Energy Transition

More than 300 delegates to discuss the expanding role of renewables in powering energy security, resilience and digital economies. The thirty-first Council meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has started in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) in a hybrid format according to an official statement issued in Abu Dhabi,Thursday Over 300 government representatives,the statement said, are attending the meeting at IRENA Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, both in person and virtually. Over the course of two days,it said, the Council will review progress on the Agency’s work and discuss collective…

Sustainable Building Materials: Why Middle Eastern Developers Are Moving Beyond Concrete

For decades, concrete has been the default choice for construction across the Middle East. It’s durable, it works in extreme heat, and robust supply chains are established. But that era is winding down. Right now, in 2026, developers are shifting away from conventional materials faster than anyone predicted, and the transition is accelerating.  The numbers are striking. The MEA was the only region in the world to record an increase in demand for green and sustainable buildings in 2025, and that momentum has carried into 2026. While global green construction is slowing,…

All Eyes on Africa as UAE announces $6bn Tourism Investment Plan

As Africa records the fastest tourism growth globally, the UAE is set to inject $6 billion into the continent’s travel and hospitality sector – a move expected to create 70 000 new jobs. The announcement was made at the recent UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025 in Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism in partnership with The Bench as part of Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2025, the event…

Israel and Hamas will exchange hostages and prisoners after agreeing to a pause in the war in Gaza

By  SAMY MAGDY, MELANIE LIDMAN and WAAFA SHURAFA Updated 2:55 PM GMT, October 9, 2025,AP Leer en español CAIRO (AP) — Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their devastating two-year war and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners — a breakthrough greeted with joy and relief Thursday but also caution. Uncertainty remains about aspects of the broader ceasefire plan advanced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump — such as whether and how Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza. But the sides appear closer than they have…

Pan Africa PR gets a further boost…..As APO Group Selected as Emirates’ Public Relations Agency for Africa

APO Group, the leading pan-African communications and news distribution consultancy, has been selected by Emirates, one of the world’s largest international airlines, as its public relations partner of record for Africa with immediate effect. Under the partnership, APO Group will support Emirates by providing strategic counsel, integrated public relations, and stakeholder engagement in South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo, Guinea, Tanzania and Egypt. The collaboration is designed to reinforce Emirates’ visibility in the region and ensure consistent, insight-led communications that support brand and commercial objectives. By leveraging…