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The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, announced today that Wednesday, June 28, will be the first day of Eid al-Adha. The Mufti congratulated all Muslims and the Palestinian people at home and abroad on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, expressing hope that by the next Eid all the Palestinian wishes of freedom and independence will be achieved.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
A number of Palestinians suffocated Sunday evening during confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in the village of Burqa, northwest of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activists in the northern West Bank, told WAFA that confrontations broke out with the occupation forces stormed Burqa, and fired bullets and tear gas canisters, which led to the injury of a number of citizens. He added that a group of settlers attacked citizens’ vehicles with stones at the entrance to the village, on the road between Jenin and Nablus.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
DUBAI, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) — Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has launched its third report on Dubai’s digital economy. The “Dubai’s Venture Capital Ecosystem” report provides an overview of the investor landscape backing the start-ups and scale-ups that are transforming Dubai and the MENA region. Commenting on the release of the report, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said, “The UAE’s advanced digital ecosystem has accelerated the development of the entrepreneurship sector and contributed to significant growth in its activity. The country’s proactive vision in developing legislation and initiatives in the digital field creates a favorable environment for startups and fast-growing companies, which has attracted unicorn companies and investors from around the world and consolidated the UAE’s position as a global hub for the digital economy.” Al Olama added, “The results in the report reflect our long-term commitment to developing smart digital solutions and deploying these to build a new and future-facing model for the economic sector in the UAE, and Dubai in particular, and underline the emirate’s position as a global capital for the future economy.” As Dubai sets its sights on becoming the global destination of choice for digital entrepreneurs, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is tasked with attracting leading tech companies, start-ups and scale-ups that can support Dubai’s digital ambitions. The chamber was created to build the world’s best digital infrastructure and transform Dubai into an international technology hub. With a series of visionary initiatives and investments in cutting-edge technology, Dubai is well on its way to achieving its ambitions. From its world-class fiberoptic network and cloud-based systems to its innovative approaches to smart city development, Dubai has set the standard for how cities can leverage technology to enhance the lives of its citizens and attract global businesses. Just one recent example is the opening of the Moro Hub in February 2023, world’s largest solar-powered data centre. The 100-MW facility is a Dubai 10X initiative, which is an innovative program launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2017. The initiative entails government entities creating disruptive, exponential change, placing Dubai 10 years ahead of leading global cities. According to the report, a total of 749 scale-ups across the MENA region (excluding Israel), have raised a total of over US$19.5 billion cumulatively over the past decade (2012-2022), with UAE scaleups accounting for 65 percent of total cumulative capital raised across the region. Today, Dubai is home to over 40 percent of the MENA region’s scale-ups, with 306 scale-ups calling the emirate home. Dubai still accounts for over 90 percent of all scale-ups in the country, which is home to 338 scale-ups in total. Dubai’s 306 scale-ups have raised over US$11.7 billion in funding over the course of the past decade, which represents an impressive 60 percent of the MENA region’s total cumulative fundraising total. In addition, in 2022, Dubai-based startups doubled-down on their prior year results, fundraising over US$2 billion. In addition, the growth of funding in the MENA region has exceeded US$4 billion in 2021 and 2022 and the number of mega-rounds of US$300 million or more has seen an increasing trend with three seen in 2021 and six in 2022, including two scaleups listing on stock exchanges. In 2022, there was a significant shift in the number of funding rounds, where scale-ups raised funding, and a trend towards larger cheque sizes and funding bracket gained momentum. In the US$100 million to US$1 billion range, funding rounds increased by more than 100 percent between 2021 and 2022. Other funding ranges also saw increases between 20 percent to 87 percent. Considering the source of capital raise, venture capital and corporate rounds accounted for over three quarters of the capital raised, while IPOs and ICOs accounted for nearly equal share. The number of scaleups have also increased considerably, in Dubai, growing 26 percent between 2021 and 2022. In terms of absolute numbers, Dubai saw an increase of 64 scale-ups between 2021 and 2022 growing from 242 to 306 scale-ups. Venture funding in Dubai has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. From a time of only seed stage and earlier rounds, Dubai has grown to become the only city in the MENA region to be home to startups to raise funds in Series E and Series F rounds. The report, which was produced in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East, reveals that more than 30 percent of the funding rounds are attributed to startups headquartered in Dubai, implying 87 percent of all funding rounds for UAE-based companies are for firms headquartered in the emirate. By 2031, the national digital economy is expected to be conservatively valued at well over US$140 billion (from today’s US$38 billion). Together with Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, it is the collaboration between stakeholders and ecosystem players that will ensure that Dubai becomes the next digital economy capital of the world. The report can be accessed at Dubais-Venture-Capital-Ecosystem.pdf (dubaichamberdigital.com).
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
The official spokesman for the presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said today that the Palestinian leadership rejects the Israeli government’s decision to accelerate settlements’ growth in the West Bank. In statements to Voice of Palestine Radio, Abu Rudeineh affirmed that the leadership also rejects Israel’s authorization to the Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich to ratify this move, adding that settlements will remain illegal according to international law. He said that Israel is playing with fire, whether in the Jerusalem file or in the settlement file, stressing that Israel is fully aware that these are Palestinian, Arab and international red lines. Abu Rudeineh warned the Israeli government that this behavior will lead to more tension and escalation of the situation on the ground. He held the US administration responsible for what is happening, affirming that “Israel cannot build a single stone without an American decision.” The US administration must bear its responsibility and not remain a silent spectator, the spokesman said. He warned that the US administration is tampering with security, stressing that its attitude and negative actions allow Israel to tamper with peace and stability in the region. Abu Rudeineh pointed out that peace can only be achieved through the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative and the Palestinian legitimacy. He confirmed the leadership’s refusal to trade the passing of the nuclear agreement with Iran by allowing Israel to escalate its settlement activity. ‘Settlements in the West Bank will all be dismantled, just as they were dismantled in the Gaza Strip, because they are illegal, and are built in violation of international laws,” he said. Abu Rudeineh stressed that the intensification of settlement construction will lead to an escalation of the situation on the ground, adding that Tel Aviv and Washington bear responsibility for that. Commenting on the leadership’s decision to suspend the work of the Higher Economic Committee with Israel, the presidential spokesman said that the Israeli government must realize that the leadership continues to implement the decisions of the National and Central Councils regarding defining the relationship with Israel and pursuing it internationally. Earlier today, the Israeli occupation government approved a decision authorizing the head of the Religious Zionist Party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to issue preliminary approval for planning and building in the Israeli settlements, in addition to expediting the procedures for expansion of settlements. The Israeli public broadcaster Kan said that the decision requires that construction plans in the settlements be advanced without the approval of the Israeli political echelon, contrary to the situation that has existed for 25 years.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
NEW DELHI, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) — India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has said that his country’s relations with the Gulf have “evolved and advanced” in the last nine years. Jaishankar was speaking at a special media briefing to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy since Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014. “Our relationships have evolved. Take the regions, the Gulf, the ASEAN, each one of these has advanced. And why have they advanced? They didn’t advance by gravity and, you know, by nature. They advanced because people worked very hard. That in these relationships, the Modi government has driven, it has put in place policies, the Prime Minister himself has led the diplomatic efforts from the front, that we have tried to find areas of agreement, of collaboration, of working together with these countries, we have tried to expand the economic base, the technology base, tried to find security partners, and we have been largely successful.” Jaishankar said the Middle East is one area where such “success is evident, if you look at the Gulf countries. “Over the past nine years, there has been a change. There has been increased political engagement and a great level of comfort. If we look around the world today and think about which countries support us, many of them are from the Middle East.” The Minister said there have been numerous high-level visits to the Gulf. In addition, he has himself visited Egypt and Tunisia, Jaishankar said, while his ministerial colleagues have been to Iraq, Morocco and Algeria. “Our engagement with these countries has increased, and our relationships have become closer through political interactions. Trade has seen significant growth in the past nine years. So, from every perspective, this region serves as an example of successful diplomacy for us,” Jaishankar concluded.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
DUBAI, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) — Delegates from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO), at the previous editions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and played a fundamental role in supporting the UAE’s efforts to enhance cooperation with the international community to combat climate change, and consolidate the UAE’s significant journey in climate action and protecting our planet. The delegation worked to enhance the active and distinguished presence of the UAE in the previous COPs, especially COP21, which is the most important COP so far. The UAE has participated then in achieving the Paris Climate Agreement and the goal of reducing the global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius. The delegation participated in sessions, meetings, and field visits to major related projects in the countries that hosted these sessions. It also exchanged best global experiences and practices, and enhanced cooperation to achieve common climate goals. The delegation also worked on launching pioneering initiatives to promote environmental sustainability across the globe, reviewing the pioneering models of the UAE and Dubai in terms of sustainability, as well as its exceptional achievements in accelerating the transition towards a green economy and achieving net zero. “Over the past years, COP has provided a global platform to highlight the significant progress and developments we have made in our journey towards achieving sustainable social and economic growth and supporting the UAE’s strategy to achieve economic growth while protecting the environment and future generations. Selecting the UAE to host COP28 by the UNFCCC in Dubai Expo City this November, underlines the world’s confidence in our wise leadership, and the country’s shining record in climate action over the years. These efforts were crowned with the announcement of the strategic initiative to achieve Net-Zero by 2050, in 2021, becoming the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to launch this strategic initiative. We are intensifying our efforts this year to implement the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make COP28 a success and support this ambitious national project to lead the global transformation to implement concrete actions. This also enables all stakeholders to work across the main pillars of achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. COP28 is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the DSCE, MD and CEO of DEWA and Chairman of the WGEO. Al Tayer highlighted that the UAE Cabinet, Chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, approved the UAE to join the Global Alliance for Green Economy, shows the UAE’s pioneering role in climate action and the wise leadership’s committment to promote international cooperation and mobilisation of efforts to accelerate the transformation towards a green economy. The UAE’s model is the most efficient model in ensuring sustainable development and facing the repercussions of climate change, and consolidating the concept of sustainable living by achieving a balance between economic growth, social welfare and environmental protection. Transformation towards a green economy requires strong partnerships between all stakeholders at the global level. It also requires following a new approach and more efficient work mechanisms. The success of these efforts needs aligning and linking climate planning and financing on the one hand, and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 on the other. “The UAE offers an effective model for a green economy that can achieve economic sustainability and protect the environment. The Global Alliance for Green Economy will contribute to achieving a new qualitative leap in the process of applying the green economy model on a global scale. This is through mobilising the efforts of countries to achieve the goals of the green economy as a high-priority goal, to enable climate action and sustainable development. Moreover, it contributes to strengthening the capabilities of developing countries and supports their projects for the transition towards a green economy, in addition to the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The global alliance will also pave the way for further cooperation, and will constitute an important step towards joint action to achieve the desired climate goals to build a brighter and more sustainable future for us and for generations to come. It will further create the ideal environment to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC in the UAE,” Al Tayer continued. The UAE Government, represented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO), and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), in collaboration with the UNFCCC, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), hosted the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (MENA Climate Week) in 2022 in Dubai. The first ever MENA Climate Week achieved remarkable success and gained widespread praise from prominent institutions and figures concerned with climate action around the world. The event attracted over 15,000 participants from 40 countries around the world who attended in person and virtually. It also attracted 500 global speakers and experts, including ministers and officials from the government and private sectors, and climate champions, in addition to officials from UN climate organisations. MENA Climate Week featured over 200 panel discussions, workshops and ministerial roundtable sessions. The Week’s activities focused on three tracks; the first was ‘Raising Ambition: National actions and economy-wide approaches.’ The second was ‘Tradition meets Modernity: Integrated Approached for Climate Resilience.’ The third track was ‘Accelerating Implementation in this Critical Decade.’ At the opening ceremony, Al Tayer said that the event will constitute a milestone in global climate action agenda and marks a key moment for the region as we take up a leadership role in this global agenda with the next two critical Climate Conferences being hosted in the region. Al Tayer explained that MENA Climate Week comes at the close of a key year in climate action and the start of a critical decade. It is the first meeting on the global climate agenda after COP26 that was organised in Glasgow in November of last year and follows a series of climate weeks that were held in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific in 2021. Last year, a high-level delegation from the DSCE, DEWA, and the WGEO participated in COP27, which was held in November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Al Tayer delivered a speech during a session hosted by the UN Global Compact Networks in the UAE and Egypt, titled ‘Accelerating Net-Zero Commitments’ that featured a series of multistakeholder dialogues addressing Egypt and the UAE’s climate agendas. Al Tayer highlighted the ongoing efforts to advance effective measures and discussions on climate action, touching on the most important outcomes and expected results of COPs, and the contribution of the 2022 edition to accelerate climate action and enhance the participation of the private sector in emissions reduction. In a session co-hosted by UNFCCC – WGEO and HSBC Middle East, titled ‘The Role of Green Economy in Nature-based Solutions,’ Al Tayer delivered a keynote speech that highlighted WGEO’s efforts in promoting practical discussions on nature-based solutions and their impact on climate action during an engagement with stakeholders. Al Tayer also delivered a keynote speech in a session about the youth and their contributions to society, which was co-hosted by WGEO and HSBC. He focused on WGEO’s role in engaging young people as part of its efforts to advance sustainable solutions, combat climate challenges, and develop the skills and knowledge of the youth. The WGEO signed an agreement with HSBC Bank to enhance the involvement of youth, and other stakeholders in various areas of climate action. This was part of its commitment to raising awareness about climate change and the importance of engaging youth and adopting strategies aimed at reducing the consequences of climate change. 2019 During COP25 in Madrid, Spain, WGEO, in cooperation with the UNFCCC, held a high-level forum to discuss financing strategies for activities targeted to combat climate change and implement the nationally determined contributions, as well as review the measures and actions undertaken by countries to achieve the Paris Agreement. The forum, which was attended by several ministers, officials and representatives from various countries, was a pioneering platform that highlighted the most important practices and effective ways to develop and implement regional and national strategies. It also facilitated access to financing for countries to meet their nationally determined contributions to mitigate the effects of climate change and achieve long-term strategies for developing countries. As part of the Regional Climate Weeks event held on the sidelines of the conference, Al Tayer announced that the UNFCCC had chosen Dubai to host the MENA Climate Week 2020, the first of its kind in the region and was held in conjunction with the Expo 2020 Dubai. 2018 At COP24 which was held in Katowice, Poland, Al Tayer delivered a keynote speech during the Sustainable Innovation Forum. Al Tayer also launched the global State of Green Economy Report 2018, which was WGEO’s first global publication. The report titled “Inspirational Innovations in Business, Finance and Policies”, was prepared in cooperation with the University of Cambridge and UNDP. It focused on the importance of innovation and sustainability in promoting the green transition around the world. During a special seminar on WGEO, held at the GCC pavilion, Al Tayer talked about establishing the organisation and its first preparatory conference. Al Tayer also met with leaders and officials in sustainability and green economy. 2016 During COP22, which was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, a delegation from DSCE and DEWA, shed light on the efforts of the energy sector in Dubai, which was a pioneer in adopting global trends for green economy and sustainability, and reducing the effects of climate change. The conference witnessed the global launch of WGEO and the UAE’s joining of WGEO as the first member. During a youth circle organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment as part of the conference, DEWA highlighted its experience in encouraging and preparing young Emiratis as well as adopting positive and innovative ideas to address global climate change issues. 2015 During COP21 in Paris, a delegation from the DSCE and DEWA held meetings with decision-makers and CEOs from the energy, water and environment sectors in France, in a special session that brought together French government agencies, including the French Business Council, the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), the Syndicate of Renewable Energy, the French Trade Commission, the French Business Council in Dubai, in addition to the French Embassy in the UAE. The meetings focused on investment, cooperation, and knowledge exchange in establishing green funds, supporting Dubai’s journey towards a green economy and enhancing its sustainability. During the conference, Al Tayer launched the State of Green Economy Report 2016, which highlighted the commitment of the UAE and the achievements of Dubai in the field of developing and implementing green agreements in various sectors, to encourage green transformation, reduce carbon emissions and encourage the adoption of a flexible economy that is closely linked to the UN climate agreement 2015.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
ABU DHABI, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) — The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has launched an initiative to support the Federal Digital Network (FedNet) with artificial intelligence (AI) services, in a major development that enhances the digital transformation journey in the UAE. This development is considered a paradigm shift in the main services provided by FedNet to government entities, based on leveraging the enormous potential of AI. Commenting on this development, Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, TDRA Director-General, said, “AI services on AI-supported FedNet are a great step in the digital transformation process, and an important element in enhancing the ability of government entities to provide easy and fast services to all customers, which reflects TDRA’s role as an enabler of digital transformation.” Through cooperation with Microsoft and Kagool, a Microsoft advanced solutions partner in data and AI, FedNet, in its new version, will provide a set of services that fall under three pillars. The first is Applied AI, which contributes to enhancing productivity and efficiency by reducing the time needed by developers to update procedures and processes, analysing conversations to improve customer experiences, and automating document processing to speed up work mechanisms. The second, Cognitive AI, refers to simulating human behaviour and thinking to solve complex problems, leading to more accurate results, while the third, machine learning, uses algorithms that allow computers to self-learn by analysing big data, extracting results from it and converting it into value. FedNet is one of the key digital government enablers in the UAE, and it receives special attention due to its strategic importance and role in the digital transformation process. FedNet supports more than 35 federal entities and more than 5,000 virtual servers. In 2023, FedNet achieved the VMware Cloud Verified certificate for the sovereign cloud category. The importance of this certificate stems from the fact that FedNet takes into account the highest standards of cybersecurity and national privacy, and that all the data is stored and processed in accordance with the relevant UAE laws. Thanks to these developments, in addition to the infrastructure supported by high-speed Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), FedNet has become an advanced AI platform, providing government entities with agility to build and deploy high-quality AI solutions and models in the visual, audio and linguistic fields. It allows big data analysis and machine learning to enable administrators to make proper decisions, all through application programming interfaces (APIs).
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
SEOUL, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) — TRENDS Research and Advisory Centre, in cooperation with the Jeju Institute of Peace in South Korea (JPI), organised a scientific symposium entitled: “Peoples’ Relations as a Basis for Global Peace Making: Building a Culture of Dialogue and Tolerance”, which called for celebrating cultural diversity and fostering purposeful dialogue, as pillars needed to lay the foundation for a harmonious future. The event was held as part of TRENDS’ activities at the 65th edition of the Seoul International Book Fair 2023. A group of experts and researchers contributed to the insightful discussion, which was attended by Abdullah Saif Ali Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM), and a distinguished audience of media professionals, writers and visitors to the book fair. The symposium was opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research and Advisory and Professor, and Prof. Young Hoon Kang, President of the Jeju Peace Institute. Dr. Al-Ali noted that TRENDS Centre has concluded more than 190 partnership agreements with important research, academic and media institutions worldwide. Such partnerships promote constructive dialogue and research cooperation to serve issues of concern to humanity in general, he elaborated. The TRENDS CEO explained that the symposium aims to emphasise the importance of strengthening ties between peoples, as the basis for achieving world peace through joint work that promotes a global culture of dialogue and tolerance. For his part, Prof. Kang said that the participation of the TRENDS delegation expands the prospects for intellectual and research cooperation, noting that the Jeju Peace Institute focuses on bolstering peace and cooperation within the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. Moderating the symposium, Rahaf Al Khazraji, researcher and Deputy Director of the Scientific Publishing Department at TRENDS, said that the symposium aims to explore the basic aspects of promoting world peace by emphasising the importance of constructive relations. She stressed that the best way to achieve coexistence and possible conflict resolution lies in developing a culture of open dialogue and tolerance. This requires exploring the complex dynamics of human interaction, Al Khazraji affirmed. In turn, Haeyong Lim, Director of Research Department at Jeju Peace Institute, presented a working paper in which he talked about the Institute’s Peace Index (JPI), a project that defines the level of cooperation and conflict in bilateral relations, and measures cooperation and conflict between and within countries, based on a huge database of global of events. Haeyong Lim gave some specialised insights on these programmes and the deduction methods used, underscoring the importance of the indicator in promoting peace and identifying the sources of conflicts and problems. In her working paper entitled “Cultural Diplomacy and Peace Promotion in the Middle East”, Elyazia Al Hosani, Head of Media Communication Office at Trends Centre, said that cultural diplomacy provides great opportunities to develop communication and mutual understanding between multiple parties. It is a valuable tool to learn about other peoples’ values, their cultures, civilisations and heritage, which could be achieved through various forms embodied in this type of diplomacy, Al Hosani explained, describing cultural diplomacy as “a powerful tool for bridging divides, promoting understanding and building a foundation for lasting peace”.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)