Tuesday, May 26

World

DCO Member States Underscore Commitment to Digital Cooperation in Joint Statement at UNGA 80
World

DCO Member States Underscore Commitment to Digital Cooperation in Joint Statement at UNGA 80

The Member States of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) convened for their first High-level Dialogue for DigitalCooperation on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly and adopted a joint statement calling for urgent global cooperation to ensure digital transformation becomes a driver of resilience, prosperity and peace. Building on the momentum of the UN Global Digital Compact, adopted in 2024, and the DCO 4-Year Agenda for Digital Resilience and Prosperity (2025-2028), the DCO Member States were united around a clear purpose: to ensure that digital transformation becomes a force for prosperity and peace, not for exclusion and fragmentation. In their deliberations, representatives of the D...
Sultan bin Ahmed lays foundation stone for Al Reeh Al Mursala Village in Sri Lanka
World

Sultan bin Ahmed lays foundation stone for Al Reeh Al Mursala Village in Sri Lanka

His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, laid the foundation stone for Al Reeh Al Mursala Village in the Puttalam region of the Republic of Sri Lanka. The project, launched as part of a wider humanitarian initiative, includes the construction of 50 homes, a mosque that accommodates 200 worshippers, a healthcare centre, and various essential service facilities designed to support the wellbeing of the local community. In addition to launching the village project, His Highness also inaugurated a fully equipped mobile medical clinic, aimed at delivering emergency medical services and conducting routine health screenings. The mobile unit will serve residents of Al Reeh Al&n...
Malawi’s ex-president wins election in comeback at age 85
World

Malawi’s ex-president wins election in comeback at age 85

Peter Mutharika brought down inflation in his first term and now has to do the same again Malawi's former President Peter Mutharika has been declared the winner of last week's elections, in a huge comeback for the 85-year-old.  Official results show that he won 57% of the vote, compared to the 33% of President Lazarus Chakwera, 70.  Chakwera, a pastor before entering politics, conceded defeat ahead of the final result being declared, phoning Mutharika to congratulate him on his "historic win". Mutharika, a former professor of law, served as president from 2014 to 2020, when he lost to Chakwera by a wide margin. He inherits an economy that is in deep crisis, with a severe shortage of fuel and foreign currency in the poor southern African state.  The official...
Colombia’s president calls US attacks on alleged drug boats ‘act of tyranny’
World

Colombia’s president calls US attacks on alleged drug boats ‘act of tyranny’

US airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea are an "act of tyranny", Colombia's President Gustavo Petro told the BBC in an interview where he also called for criminal proceedings against US officials if investigations find Colombians were killed in the attacks. President Donald Trump has cast the strikes, which have reportedly killed 17 since they began this month, as needed to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal narcotics into the US. Legal experts and lawmakers, though, have questioned if they violate international human rights laws. "Why launch a missile if you could simply stop the boat and arrest the crew?" said Petro. "That's what one would call murder." Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Petro said there should be "zero deaths" in stopping...
DCO and Member States Unite through WE-Elevate to Advance Female-Led Enterprises in the Digital Economy
World

DCO and Member States Unite through WE-Elevate to Advance Female-Led Enterprises in the Digital Economy

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organization dedicated to accelerating inclusive and sustainable digital economies, announced the expansion of its WE-Elevate program across all Member States on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York.  Developed by the DCO to support female-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), WE-Elevate is a transformative capacity-building program designed to help entrepreneurs fully participate in the digital economy. Piloted in Rwanda, the program has already delivered tangible results, enabling female-led MSMEs to enhance digital skills, formalize operations, and expand into new markets. WE-Elevate c...
Abu Dhabi’s TII and NVIDIA Launch Middle East’s First Joint ‘AI & Robotics’ NVAITC Research Lab
World

Abu Dhabi’s TII and NVIDIA Launch Middle East’s First Joint ‘AI & Robotics’ NVAITC Research Lab

Pioneering humanoid and robotics R&D with next-generation AI integration The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has joined forces with NVIDIA, the world leader in accelerated computing and AI, to launch the Middle East’s first Joint Lab dedicated to both artificial intelligence and robotics. This landmark collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind hub in the region for developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies that will accelerate innovation across industries. The announcement of the TII-NVAITC (NVIDIA AI Technology Center) Joint Lab for AI and Robotics was made during a signing ceremony held at TII’s headquarters in Abu Dh...
Sharjah hosts Inclusion International 18th World Congress 2025 ‘We Are Inclusion’ for the first time, with 600 participants from 74 countries
World

Sharjah hosts Inclusion International 18th World Congress 2025 ‘We Are Inclusion’ for the first time, with 600 participants from 74 countries

Sharjah hosted the 18th edition of the World Congress 2025 “We Are Inclusion” for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The event was held from September 15 - 17 at Expo Centre Sharjah, and organised by the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) and Inclusion International, with support from the strategic partnership of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.  The congress brought together 152 speakers, including self-advocates, families, experts, and policymakers from 160 organisations across 74 countries, featuring 59 sessions, with 600 participants.  During the event, Inclusion International granted Sheikha Jamee...
AHF Applauds African Leadership in Strengthening Public Health
World

AHF Applauds African Leadership in Strengthening Public Health

 AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) applauds the Government of Zambia for increasing its health budget allocation from 7% in 2021 to 12% today, an effort that reflects growing political commitment to strengthen national health systems and secure long-term sustainability. AHF also commends continental efforts by African presidents and regional institutions for driving urgent action on key public health priorities. These decisive moves by African governments and institutions come at a time when the continent’s health sector is under immense pressure from a sharp 70% decline in Official Development Assistance between 2021 and 2025 and rising debt burdens, with countries expected to service $81 billion of debt by this year. Ghana’s President John Mahama r...
EmpowerME equips 86,000+ youth across MENA and Türkiye with job and enterprise skills in first year
World

EmpowerME equips 86,000+ youth across MENA and Türkiye with job and enterprise skills in first year

EmpowerME has equipped more than 86,000 young people across MENA and Türkiye with practical skills for work and entrepreneurship in its first year, pairing intensive, mentor‑led learning with ambassador‑led local trainings. The three‑year, USD 6 million partnership by the Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Group, delivered with INJAZ Al‑Arab/JA MENA and Habitat Association, aims to empower 250,000 youth across nine markets. INJAZ engaged 41,769 youth across Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Of these, 5,013 participated in intensive, hands‑on programs such as the Company Program, Innovation Day Camps, Sustainability & Green Entrepreneurship, and employability pathways; a further 36,756 joined webinars and short‑format sessions. Among the intensive cohorts wer...
Germany summons Russian ambassador over drones in Polish airspace
World

Germany summons Russian ambassador over drones in Polish airspace

The German government on Friday summoned the Russian ambassador to express its dismay over the incursion of drones into Polish airspace, an act Berlin is treating as a deliberate provocation by Moscow. The Foreign Office wrote on X that the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin were "dangerous" and "unacceptable." "NATO stands united to defend our alliance territory and our security," the ministry wrote. France and the Netherlands have also summoned Russian envoys following the violation of Poland's airspace by 19 Russian drones, which occurred late Tuesday and early Wednesday during attacks on neighbouring Ukraine. The threat led to a scramble by the Polish Air Force and NATO allies to shoot down the unmanned aircraft. It was the first time Russian drones had been taken ...
//omg10.com/4/3711026