Latest news with #BeyondBorders
Sport360
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sport360
SPIA enjoys grand Abu Dhabi debut for 12th edition as Middle East's sports industry stars are celebrated
Prize winners included DP World, TikTok, ADSC, ADNOC, Ethara and Saudi Arabian Football Federation [SAFF]. Victors in the 19 categories had been picked by an independent panel of judges, comprising industry stalwarts chosen for their expertise in the Middle East sports ecosphere. Sport360X Managing Director Bassam Nawfal was thrilled by the strong response to this year's awards. He said: 'We are incredibly proud to have brought the 12th edition of the Sports Industry Awards to Abu Dhabi. 'This event has always been about celebrating the visionaries, organisations and initiatives driving the growth of sport across the region – and 2025 was no exception. Welcoming so many illustrious guests to Space42 Arena was a testament to the passion and momentum behind the Middle East's sports industry. 'From outstanding campaigns to world-class facilities, the calibre of this year's winners was truly inspiring. We're also grateful to all our partners and sponsors whose support made this latest celebration possible. 'Since being established in 2012, the Sports Industry Awards has stood as a beacon of excellence, and we're thrilled with the overwhelming response to this milestone edition.' Each submission was thoroughly evaluated against set criteria by a panel of seasoned experts from across the sports sector, ensuring a process rooted in integrity and fairness. With transparency as a priority, 16 judges applied a structured, impartial approach to provide every entrant an equal opportunity. These included: H.H. Princess Nouf AlSaud (General Manager – Marketing, Ministry of Sport Saudi Arabia), Richard Scudamore (Former Executive Chairman & CEO, Premier League), Marina Storti (CEO, WTA Ventures), H.E. Ali Al Ali (CEO & Board Member, Dubai Racing Club), Melissa Moncada (CEO & Founder, Aurora Group), Danny Townsend (CEO, SURJ Sports Investment), Tom Foley (CEO, Go Sport), Shaima Alhusseini (Saudi Sports for all Federation, Managing Director), Jan Paterson (Managing Director – Sport, NEOM), Andrea De Vincentiis (HSBC, Global Head of Brand Partnerships), Alex Brown (Senior Vice President, Brand & Marketing, ADNOC), Jamie Dean (Executive Director – Sports, MODON), Simon Morris (Vice President, Marketing, International, Adobe), Karim Younes (Islamic Solidarity Games Riyadh 2025, Head of Marketing & Commercial), Warwick Gird (General Manager – Marketing, Spinneys). Abu Dhabi Sports Council came away with 'Best Youth Sports Program' for Active Hub, 'Best Corporate Wellness' with Abu Dhabi Government Games 2024 and 'Best Mass Participation Event' for ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Their General Secretary, His Excellency Aref Al Awani, was also honoured with 'Strategic Leadership in Middle East Sport'. Saudi Arabia's Adwa AlArifi, Assistant Minister for Sport Affairs at Ministry of Sport, received the night's second recognition prize, for 'Transformational Leadership in Middle East Sport'. An evening of success for DP World included 'Best Sports Campaign' (Beyond Borders with 160over90), 'Excellence in Sustainability' with Green Drive and 'Best Sport Event' for DP World Tour Championship. Ethara won 'Best Sports Agency' and 'Outstanding Contribution to Sport in the Middle East', while their work with Train Yas was awarded with 'Best Community Sports Initiative'. Other highlights included TikTok Zone (For UAE Pro League) being honoured with gold in 'Best Fan Engagement in Sport' and (Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034™ Bid) getting silver in 'Best Sports Campaign'. For more information, please visit . ABOUT THE ORGANISERS Sport360X Sport360X has been telling the Middle East's very best sports stories for more than a decade across video, social, gaming and events. It boasts the narrative and creative skills, in Arabic and English, to produce market-leading content that builds affinity with fans and commercial partners alike. Access is provided to more than 15m followers on Sport360X's native social media platforms, plus websites that generate more than 12m monthly page views. Interact Interact was founded in 2014 from a bold vision to inspire a healthier, more active generation. As the owners of the Sports Industry Series, Interact partners with leading brands and government bodies to embed healthy behaviours deep within communities. Their work spans the design, delivery and promotion of impactful, large-scale initiatives and events that boost physical activity, support healthier eating, and improve mental well-being across diverse population. Sport Industry Series October 2024's game-changing partnership saw Interact's Sport Industry Forum and Sport360X's SPIA come together under Sport Industry Series.
Al Bawaba
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
From Doha to Havana: Georgetown Student Wilbert Fils Pierre-Louis Advances Cultural Diplomacy on the Global Stage
When Wilbert Fils Pierre-Louis stepped onto the stage in Havana at the 'International Seminar on Cultural Diplomacy,' he wasn't just presenting a paper; he was carrying Haiti's legacy and Georgetown University in Qatar's commitment to global citizenship.A third-year student of International Affairs at GU-Q, Wilbert traveled to Cuba to participate in the diplomacy seminar hosted by the Instituto Superior de Relaciones Internacionales (ISRI), Cuba's premier diplomatic academy. His paper, "Beyond Borders: Haiti's Cultural Diplomacy and Its Global Impact," was among a select few accepted for presentation.'I felt like I was representing more than myself,' Wilbert said. 'I was speaking on behalf of a country often misrepresented, and a university that pushes students to think beyond boundaries.'In his presentation, Wilbert argued that Haiti's revolutionary history, rich artistic heritage, and vibrant diaspora are untapped resources in reshaping the country's global image, proposing a model for Haiti to leverage cultural assets as a tool for strategic InterviewWilbert's insights and passion for cultural diplomacy also caught the attention of national media. During the seminar, he was interviewed by Cubavisión Internacional, one of Cuba's leading international television channels. His comments, broadcast across the region, touched on the growing role of emerging technologies like AI in shaping global narratives and strengthening soft power.'It was surreal,' Wilbert reflected. 'To be asked to speak on Cuban national TV showed me that ideas matter, even across languages and systems.'(Photo: Still from Wilbert's interview on Cubavisión Internacional)Preparation for SuccessWilbert's insight into Haiti's cultural diplomacy emerged from research for his Culture and Politics major and his hands-on experience as an intern at the Embassy of Haiti in Qatar. He credits the course Cultural Diplomacy: Policy and Practice as foundational to his thinking.'Dr. Nadine Ghamloush, professor of Diplomacy and the Art of Negotiation, always emphasized connecting the classroom to the real world,' he said. 'That mindset shaped this research.'(Photo: Wilbert presenting at the ISRI seminar)Wilbert's academic focus blends international relations, history, and cultural analysis, a combination he says prepared him to write and defend the ideas in his paper.'I want my work to connect lived experience with academic inquiry,' Wilbert said. 'Diplomacy isn't just what happens between governments, it's also what happens between people.'Diplomacy in PracticeWhile in Cuba, Wilbert also had the meaningful opportunity to reconnect with his former mentor from the Embassy of Haiti in Qatar, Vichy De La Fayette Thibeaud, who now serves as Interim Chargée d'Affaires. During his internship in Qatar, Wilbert gained essential knowledge and insight for his research by shadowing Ambassador Thibeaud's work supporting Haitian expatriates and representing Haiti at cultural exhibitions.'Seeing my mentor in Cuba was a full circle moment,' said Wilbert. 'We talked about her current work organizing dialogue and facilitating academic exchange, and she reminded me that diplomacy isn't just about statecraft, it's about showing up, being present, and creating meaningful partnerships over time.'Wilbert also had a chance to tour the city's museums and historic neighborhoods, thanks to his embassy hosts. 'Havana itself felt like a museum,' he said. 'Every corner had sculptures, murals, or some visual story being told. One Cuban student told me, 'Our streets teach history more than our books.' That stuck with me.'(Photo: Public sculpture in central Havana, taken during Wilbert's tour)Looking AheadWilbert is now back in Doha, applying what he learned in Havana to ongoing research and continuing to explore diplomacy, cultural policy, and international cooperation.'This experience made me realize that youth can lead in redefining diplomacy,' he said. 'We're not just preparing for the future, we're already shaping it.'(Photo: Wilbert with fellow seminar participants and Cuban students) Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Qatar, GU-Q is committed to preparing the next generation of research-informed leaders and decision-makers.
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
EBANX Data Shows 41% of Online Card Transactions in Brazil Come From Digital Issuers
CURITIBA, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 12, 2025-- Digital-first financial institutions have become key drivers behind cards' sustained presence and growth in rising economies. According to internal data from EBANX, a global Payment Service Provider (PSP) that has already processed transactions for nearly 70% of Brazil's credit cardholders, fintech companies and digital players now account for 41% of the total value transacted through credit cards for online purchases in Brazil. This trend is gaining traction in other countries in Latin America, mainly Colombia (21%) and Argentina (19%), where digital banking expansion and intense fintech activity are pushing card issuance. 'This is a clear indication of how the fast and massive adoption of alternative payment channels by consumers in emerging countries is also influencing the credit card industry in these regions,' says João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX. 'E-wallets and other real-time payments like Pix, in Brazil, and PSE, in Colombia, have raised the bar and driven innovation across all segments, including credit cards. These digital solutions have pushed traditional payment methods to evolve and adapt to meet modern consumer expectations.' Fintech and neobank's key contributions to the credit card market include user-friendly platforms, reward programs, and enhanced customer experiences that have reshaped how consumers engage with card payments. As a result, these institutions now have nearly the same reach as the major traditional banks in emerging markets such as Brazil. In Brazil, Latin America's largest market, their user base jumped from 25 million individuals to 100 million in three years, per the Central Bank of Brazil. Four out of 10 of these people are credit card holders, a group that has tripled in size in the country since 2019, led by digital players. One effect of this trend is the growth in credit card usage in digital commerce across emerging markets, with a projected annual increase of 13% through 2027, according to the new edition of Beyond Borders, EBANX's annual comprehensive study on the digital market and payment trends in emerging economies. What's next in credit cards Incumbent banks have followed in the footsteps of digital-first financial institutions and are also investing in innovations further to advance the online purchasing experience in rising economies. Consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries, gaining access to more straightforward and secure checkout systems, such as click-to-pay technology, which reduces the number of clicks needed to complete a purchase, improving convenience and efficiency. , such as click-to-pay technology, which reduces the number of clicks needed to complete a purchase, improving convenience and efficiency. Network tokenization stands out as another prime example, as it replaces sensitive card data with encrypted identifiers for each transaction, reducing fraud risk without compromising approval rates. Additionally, the technology lowers fraud-related declines and enhances the overall quality of transactions. In tests conducted by EBANX in Brazil, network tokens reduced the decline of transactions by more than 86% due to card security issues. Furthermore, the adoption of network tokens led to an increase of up to 7 percentage points in overall approval rates for online retail merchants and up to 5 percentage points for subscription-based merchants. 'In today's dynamic payments landscape, the focus isn't on opposing Pix or e-wallets to cards or choosing between traditional and new payment methods,' explains Del Valle. 'Instead, it's about expanding opportunities and creating an ecosystem where different payment solutions can coexist and complement each other, ultimately providing consumers with more choices and better experiences in their digital transactions.' Debit cards in emerging markets While credit cards account for approximately 80% of online purchases in emerging markets, according to data from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) in Beyond Borders, debit cards have become an important avenue for attracting new online customers in countries like Peru, Mexico, and South Africa. Especially in markets where access to credit is more restricted, financial inclusion has catapulted the usage of debit cards, which are linked to existing account balances, and brought new consumers into e-commerce. . Especially in markets where access to credit is more restricted, financial inclusion has catapulted the usage of debit cards, which are linked to existing account balances, and brought new consumers into e-commerce. Peru exemplifies this pattern, where 60% of first-time online shoppers use debit cards, according to EBANX's internal data. In Mexico, this figure reaches 55%. Not surprisingly, in these two countries, debit cards account for a larger share of online transaction volume than credit cards, at 49% compared to 27% in Peru and 38% versus 31% in Mexico. 'However, it's worth noting that this share will likely decrease in some key economies from emerging markets such as Brazil and Colombia, as alternative payment methods mature in these countries,' reflects Del Valle. In Brazil, where Pix holds 40% of the online sales volume, debit cards now account for only 1% of digital commerce transaction value. ABOUT EBANX EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world's fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and consumers alike. EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world's fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and consumers alike. Leonardo Stamillo Content CO SOURCE: EBANX Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/12/2025 08:06 AM/DISC: 03/12/2025 08:07 AM
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
These states have seen the biggest crackdown on immigration since Trump returned to office
Rounded up and detained in facilities largely in the South, a map of where tens of thousands are being held in states across the U.S. paints a striking picture of the vast Trump administration's hardline immigration crackdown. With Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention facilities at capacity, The Independent's map shines a light on where 43,759 people are being held in the centers across the country as of February 8 — and more than half do not hold criminal records, according to data collected by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Many will have to wait in the facilities for weeks and, in some cases, months before their cases proceed. Detention centers in Texas and Louisiana have by far the most number of people overall, with one Mississippi center — privately-run Adams County Detention Center in Natchez — holding over 2,100 detainees on average, according to the data. Border states have detained the most people for years but under the first Trump administration, experts noted a shift to facilities in other southern states, reflected in the most current data. Texas has detained the most, with 12,259 being held in ICE detention centers across the state on average. Eight facilities in Texas out of the top 20 nationwide were each holding more than 800 people for ICE, according to the data. The Lone Star state was followed by 6,878 in Louisiana, 3,024 in California, 2,382 in Georgia, 2,300 in Arizona and 2,169 in Mississippi. After Mississippi's Adams County center, run by private prison company CoreCivic, the facility with the second largest population was the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, averaging 1,680 detainees. There are also more than 188,000 families and individuals in the system who are in the Alternatives to Detention programs of January 11, meaning they are being monitored via ankle monitoring, home visits and checks in at ICE offices. But the ICE figures 'only scratch the surface' in Texas because of the number of migrants also in Customs and Border Protection detention and the state's Operation Lone Star program, explained Daniel Hatoum, senior supervising attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project's Beyond Borders program. Hatoum described Operation Lone Star, the border security initiative launched by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, as the state's attempt to carry out immigration enforcement via a constitutional loophole. 'They charge folks with things like trespassing, specifically trying to target immigrants with state-level criminal violations, and so you have a lot of detention coming from that as well,' he told The Independent. President Donald Trump has the mandate to go after migrants without criminal records after rescinding several Biden administration limitations on ICE arrests. Among the thousands in lock up, nearly 55 percent have no criminal record, the data shows. 'Often in some of these facilities, they hold people who have been convicted of crimes alongside people who are there simply because of their immigration case,' said Jesse Franzblau, a senior policy analyst with the National Immigrant Justice Center, which provides legal services for people detained throughout the Midwest. While the White House has declared all undocumented migrants 'criminals,' there is no law that makes it a crime to live in the U.S. as an undocumented migrant and it is treated as a civil violation by the courts. 'Given that immigration detention is civil in nature, it really doesn't have anything to do with anybody's past infractions,' Franzblau told The Independent. The reason for the concentration of detention facilities in the South is down to a number of states phasing out immigration centers. With that comes a myriad of challenges for the people being held. 'A lot of these facilities are far from cities and that makes it difficult for access to legal counsel and for people to able to be in communication with family members,' Franzblau said. 'It raises a lot of issues with these facilities being placed in remote regions in this way,' he said. 'They are concentrated in the South and in states where you have a particularly strong influence from private prison contractors,' the analyst added. Immigration advocacy groups have long warned about the conditions inside detention facilities where people face 'egregious abuses.' While these abuses - such as holding detainees in solitary confinement and depriving them of medication - were also prevalent in previous administrations, there are fears that things will deteriorate more rapidly inside facilities under Trump. 'ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in the agency's custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments under appropriate conditions of confinement,' an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent. 'ICE continues to review its immigration detention centers nationally, monitoring the quality of life and treatment of detained individuals among other factors relevant to the continued operation of each facility.' ICE under the Trump administration is only just getting started. Its network of detention centers in county jails and for-profit prisons had around 38,000 beds at the beginning of February, according to internal Department of Homeland Security data. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, wants 100,000 detention beds. The ICE spokesperson told The Independent that its 'significant number of arrests' do require greater detention capacity. ICE is reopening an immigration detention facility in New Jersey, it was announced Thursday, after securing a $1.2 billion contract lasting 15 years with private prison company The Geo Group. The Delaney Hall facility in Newark will have 1,000 beds, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area. It's a sign of what's to come, campaigners said. 'What we're seeing now is something like over 110 percent capacity in ICE detention,' Hatoum said. 'When you have overcapacity in detention, in prison, anything like that, conditions worsen.' 'The Trump administration wants to detain more folks,' Hatoum warned. 'Homan has called for things like 'tent cities' and so the concern is that we're trying to build potential tools quick, without the the conditions are going to be so terrible that people are harmed.'
The Independent
02-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
These states have seen the biggest crackdown on immigration since Trump returned to office
Rounded up and detained in facilities largely in the South, a map of where tens of thousands are being held in states across the U.S. paints a striking picture of the vast Trump administration' s hardline immigration crackdown. With Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention facilities at capacity, The Independent 's map shines a light on where 43,759 people are being held in the centers across the country as of February 8 — and more than half do not hold criminal records, according to data collected by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Many will have to wait in the facilities for weeks and, in some cases, months before their cases proceed. Detention centers in Texas and Louisiana have by far the most number of people overall, with one Mississippi center — privately-run Adams County Detention Center in Natchez — holding over 2,100 detainees on average, according to the data. Border states have detained the most people for years but under the first Trump administration, experts noted a shift to facilities in other southern states, reflected in the most current data. Texas has detained the most, with 12,259 being held in ICE detention centers across the state on average. Eight facilities in Texas out of the top 20 nationwide were each holding more than 800 people for ICE, according to the data. The Lone Star state was followed by 6,878 in Louisiana, 3,024 in California, 2,382 in Georgia, 2,300 in Arizona and 2,169 in Mississippi. After Mississippi's Adams County center, run by private prison company CoreCivic, the facility with the second largest population was the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, averaging 1,680 detainees. There are also more than 188,000 families and individuals in the system who are in the Alternatives to Detention programs of January 11, meaning they are being monitored via ankle monitoring, home visits and checks in at ICE offices. But the ICE figures 'only scratch the surface' in Texas because of the number of migrants also in Customs and Border Protection detention and the state's Operation Lone Star program, explained Daniel Hatoum, senior supervising attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project's Beyond Borders program. Hatoum described Operation Lone Star, the border security initiative launched by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, as the state's attempt to carry out immigration enforcement via a constitutional loophole. 'They charge folks with things like trespassing, specifically trying to target immigrants with state-level criminal violations, and so you have a lot of detention coming from that as well,' he told The Independent. President Donald Trump has the mandate to go after migrants without criminal records after rescinding several Biden administration limitations on ICE arrests. Among the thousands in lock up, nearly 55 percent have no criminal record, the data shows. 'Often in some of these facilities, they hold people who have been convicted of crimes alongside people who are there simply because of their immigration case,' said Jesse Franzblau, a senior policy analyst with the National Immigrant Justice Center, which provides legal services for people detained throughout the Midwest. While the White House has declared all undocumented migrants 'criminals,' there is no law that makes it a crime to live in the U.S. as an undocumented migrant and it is treated as a civil violation by the courts. 'Given that immigration detention is civil in nature, it really doesn't have anything to do with anybody's past infractions,' Franzblau told The Independent. The reason for the concentration of detention facilities in the South is down to a number of states phasing out immigration centers. With that comes a myriad of challenges for the people being held. 'A lot of these facilities are far from cities and that makes it difficult for access to legal counsel and for people to able to be in communication with family members,' Franzblau said. 'It raises a lot of issues with these facilities being placed in remote regions in this way,' he said. 'They are concentrated in the South and in states where you have a particularly strong influence from private prison contractors,' the analyst added. Immigration advocacy groups have long warned about the conditions inside detention facilities where people face 'egregious abuses.' While these abuses - such as holding detainees in solitary confinement and depriving them of medication - were also prevalent in previous administrations, there are fears that things will deteriorate more rapidly inside facilities under Trump. 'ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in the agency's custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments under appropriate conditions of confinement,' an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent. 'ICE continues to review its immigration detention centers nationally, monitoring the quality of life and treatment of detained individuals among other factors relevant to the continued operation of each facility.' ICE under the Trump administration is only just getting started. Its network of detention centers in county jails and for-profit prisons had around 38,000 beds at the beginning of February, according to internal Department of Homeland Security data. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, wants 100,000 detention beds. The ICE spokesperson told The Independent that its 'significant number of arrests' do require greater detention capacity. ICE is reopening an immigration detention facility in New Jersey, it was announced Thursday, after securing a $1.2 billion contract lasting 15 years with private prison company The Geo Group. The Delaney Hall facility in Newark will have 1,000 beds, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area. It's a sign of what's to come, campaigners said. 'What we're seeing now is something like over 110 percent capacity in ICE detention,' Hatoum said. 'When you have overcapacity in detention, in prison, anything like that, conditions worsen.' 'The Trump administration wants to detain more folks,' Hatoum warned. 'Homan has called for things like 'tent cities' and so the concern is that we're trying to build potential tools quick, without the the conditions are going to be so terrible that people are harmed.'
