Aga Khan, leader of Ismaili Muslims, dies aged 88
"His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family," the Aga Khan Development Network said.
"The announcement of his designated successor will follow," the foundation added in a post on X.
Present in multiple countries, notably in central and southern Asia, Africa and the Middle East, the Ismaili community numbers 12 to 15 million, according to its website.
The Aga Khan was the founder and president of his eponymous foundation, which employs 96,000 people and finances development programmes particularly in Asia and Africa.
Agence France-Presse
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
30-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Life after cod: Latvia reinvents its coastal communities
Imants Liepins, Agence France-Presse Fishers do not usually wish for a "perfect storm". But Latvian boating communities are hoping for exactly that: a rare tempest that might, one day, revive waning stocks of Baltic cod. Decreasing salinity in the Baltic Sea is robbing the saltwater fish of the conditions it needs to thrive. And as its population shrinks, so do the fishing traditions that have long characterised villages along Latvia's 494-kilometre (307-mile) coastline. The result for the communities in this small EU nation is a drive to reinvent themselves, to survive. With the European Union steadily cutting allowable catches of Baltic cod, and moving towards a total ban to replenish stocks, towns and villages are diversifying into tourism and seafood processing. "We launched a new marina for yachting, offered services for sea travellers, and a French investor opened a brand new shipyard for yacht building," Agris Stulbergs, harbourmaster for the port in the village of Engure, explained to AFP. Leisure boating has become a favoured activity in this village, located just 50 kilometres from the capital Riga, and others. Farther west, in the port city of Ventspils, Juris Petersons, a lifelong seaman, reminisced how Latvian fishers used to bring in lavish hauls of fish highly valued in kitchens from Russia to Britain. "Back in the mid-80s the Latvian fishing fleet brought in 55,000 tons of Baltic cod, in addition to salmon, herring and many other saltwater fish," he said. Now "the environmental conditions have become so unfavourable to cod growth that Latvian fishermen are allowed to catch just 16 tonnes of cod a year," he said. "And even that amounts only to the accidental by-catch when we fish for herring," said Petersons, an industrial fishing boat skipper until he sold off his trawlers last year. The Baltic Sea is fed by a number of large freshwater rivers. It is connected with the North Sea only through the shallow Danish straits, preventing Atlantic saltwater from entering the Baltic basin. In order to recover, the cod population would need a rare seastorm, with just the right windspeed at the correct angle to push masses of saltwater into the Baltic Sea. That "happened at least twice during the previous century, but currently we're waiting for that perfect storm for the third decade", Petersons said. Given the smaller yield, many in the industry have focused on quality over quantity. "All the fish canning companies... have either gone out of business or turned their production lines into making more valuable export-grade products," said Janis Megnis, chief of the Roja port administration. Their high quality herring and anchovy products "can be found today from Walmart in the United States to stores in Australia and Japan", he said. Political changes have also affected the industry. Historically Latvia's fish processing industry mainly served markets in Russia and Belarus. But with the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, followed by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the resulting Western sanctions, Latvian fishing companies have been forced to seek other markets. The biggest importers today are Canada, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Denmark and the UK, according to the agriculture ministry. New markets include Arab countries and South Africa. Many families in Latvia's coastal towns have also turned their former fisheries into guesthouses and vacation destinations or switched from selling raw fish to the more lucrative smoked, prepared and spiced varieties. "My husband is a fifth-generation fisherman: he goes out to sea for fish, which we then smoke and turn into high-end products," said Iveta Celkarte, who runs a fishing estate in Berzciems village. "We also have a family cafe... serving our own seafood," said Celkarte, who has also become a television and social media personality. Celkarte offers three-hour tours about the history of traditional fishing, taking visitors on a stroll through dunes to the shore and finishing with a special meal. "For me it is important to tell people about the traditions of our coast, the history of fishing and the life of previous generations working on the sea" she said. Aivars Lembergs, a former mayor of Ventspils, said he began turning his city into a manufacturing hub and developing tourism has been key, and is paying off. The city is seeing many tourists coming in from neighbouring Lithuania. "During summers you'll sometimes see more Lithuanians on the streets of Ventspils than Latvians, as Lithuania has a very short Baltic coastline, and their tourists come here to enjoy the short Baltic summer," said Lembergs, who was mayor between 1988 and 2021.


Zawya
21-07-2025
- Zawya
Netaj reinforces its leadership in e-commerce through strategic initiatives and national partnerships
Baghdad, Iraq — Netaj, Iraq's leading platform for innovation and entrepreneurial support, reaffirmed its deep commitment to building the future of e-commerce in the country during a high-profile event held on July 16, 2025 in Baghdad. The event brought together a distinguished group of private sector leaders, senior government representatives, ambassadors, diplomats, and experts from across economic and technology sectors. Mr. Ghaleb Al-Hussaini, Chairman of the Board at Netaj, stated during his opening remarks: 'Netaj is not just a platform for supporting entrepreneurship; we are a strategic partner in building Iraq's digital economy. We provide a comprehensive environment that combines investment, capacity building, and hands-on guidance to help startups and high-potential businesses grow and compete.' A Platform for National Dialogue and Policy Coordination The event witnessed broad participation from high-level officials who highlighted the core challenges facing Iraq's e-commerce sector, particularly around infrastructure, digital payments, and regulatory frameworks. They stressed the importance of developing a national roadmap through public-private cooperation. The event was also attended by representatives of major companies such as Super Cell, leading banking institutions, and official delegations from the French and Dutch Embassies. Also present were notable tech influencers and government leaders, including Dr. Nawfal Abu Ragheef, President of the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CME). A standout contribution came from Dr. Hassan Al-Khatib, Digital Transformation Advisor to the Prime Minister, who underscored the government's active efforts to bridge the gap between young Iraqi entrepreneurs and local investors. He emphasized that digital empowerment and entrepreneurship are two pillars of Iraq's long-term sustainable economic development strategy. Dr. Wissam Mattout, CEO of Netaj, added: 'At Netaj, we are committed to empowering youth and businesses through practical tools and real investment. We don't just fund — we build complete support systems that include training, mentorship, planning, and market access. We believe digital transformation starts with people.' Strategic Partnerships to Empower Youth and the E-Commerce Sector As part of the event, Netaj announced a series of strategic partnerships aimed at enabling thousands of Iraqi youth to enter the e-commerce space with the tools and support they need to succeed. Among the most notable collaborations is one with Haeiz, a leading digital retail platform that will support aspiring entrepreneurs by helping them build online stores, receive marketing and technical training, and access the market effectively. 'Nawat': Capital + Capability = Sustainable Growth The event also highlighted progress under Nawat, Iraq's first Venture Studio, launched by Netaj earlier this year. Nawat currently supports over 40 startups across various sectors and is building a dedicated $2 million USD investment fund to accelerate their growth. The Nawat model combines investment, capacity development, and operational infrastructure, giving Iraqi entrepreneurs a safe, professional environment to transform their ideas into scalable businesses. About Netaj Netaj is Iraq's premier platform for building a fully integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and innovation. Through investment programs, training, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, Netaj helps startups and SMEs grow and scale both locally and regionally — contributing to the development of a strong, resilient digital economy in Iraq.


Al Etihad
17-07-2025
- Al Etihad
UAE participates in 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in South Africa
17 July 2025 19:46 DURBAN (WAM)The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of the UAE, is participating in the 3rd meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG), held under the presidency of South Africa for the year meeting took place in the city of Durban, bringing together representatives of G20 member states, invited countries, and international by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, the UAE delegation featured Younis Haji AlKhoori, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; Ebrahim Obaid Al Zaabi, Assistant Governor for Monetary Policy and Financial Stability at the Central Bank of the UAE; and Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations at the Ministry of meeting is set to explore the progress made on the 2025 priorities set by the South African presidency of the G20. It will conclude with the adoption of the official communiqué, which the UAE contributed to through working group comments and participation in Deputy-level drafting discussions cover a wide range of topics, including the global macroeconomic outlook, international financial architecture, infrastructure development, international taxation, impediments to growth and development in Africa, sustainable finance, financial sector issues and financial bin Hadi Al Hussaini stated that the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting provided a strategic platform for strengthening international coordination on global economic and financial issues as well as for advancing joint efforts to achieve economic stability and support sustainable noted that the UAE's participation aimed to support the Group's global objectives and contribute actively to the development of international economic and financial emphasised the importance of adopting effective policies that ensure macroeconomic stability, including targeted fiscal support, improved institutional quality, and enhanced labour market stressed that the UAE is committed to strengthening the international finance structure, supporting emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).This, he noted, can be achieved by reducing investment risks, mobilising private capital, providing targeted financial support, strengthening local markets, advancing structural reforms, and fostering international cooperation, efforts that collectively enhance global financial Hussaini added that the UAE continues to pursue proactive financial policies to reinforce this approach, further contributing to long-term sustainable Hussaini welcomed the progress made on international tax reform through the BEPS Action Plan, highlighting the UAE's commitment to building fair and sustainable tax systems through the country's involvement in the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Minister also underscored the need to boost private sector participation in infrastructure, improve access to affordable capital through more inclusive financial markets, and advance governance and institutional capacity, highlighting these as key policy priorities to drive growth and development in Hussaini affirmed that policy coherence, institutional capacity, and reliable climate data are essential to overcoming barriers to sustainable finance, highlighting the UAE's experience in addressing insurance protection gaps through climate risk assessments and premium pricing frameworks and a collaborative approach among financial the sidelines of the G20 FMCBG meetings, the UAE attended the G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies meetings on July 14-16 to discuss the statement of the G20 also covered recent multilateral development bank developments, pandemic response financing, growth and development in Africa, and additional communiqué drafting sessions of the UAE is taking part in the G20's activities 2025, which will conclude with the Leaders' Summit later this year. This marks the country's sixth participation in the G20 Summit process, following previous invitations as a guest country in France (2011), Saudi Arabia (2020), Indonesia (2022), India (2023), and Brazil (2024).