Latest news with #Middle
Fintech News ME
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fintech News ME
UAE Launches Region's First Finfluencer License
Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the UAE has officially introduced the region's first 'Finfluencer' license, marking a significant step in regulating and supervising digital financial content. This initiative aims to establish a formal governance framework for individuals providing investment analysis, recommendations, and financial promotions via digital platforms. The measure is intended to strengthen investor protection across the UAE's capital markets. Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, Chief Executive Officer of the SCA, commented on the development, stating, Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi 'Introducing the Finfluencer license is not merely a regulatory measure; it is a strategic move to redefine the role of regulators in the digital economy. Through this initiative, the SCA aspires to elevate global benchmarks of market integrity, foster transparency, and nurture a disciplined and trustworthy financial environment. The launch of the Finfluencer license forms part of a broader set of incentive measures adopted by the SCA to modernise its regulatory framework in response to the dynamic nature of digital finance. As part of this effort, the SCA has waived registration, renewal, and legal consultation fees related to this service for a period of three years. This move is aligned with the UAE government's wider efforts to reduce administrative barriers and encourage innovation within a sound legal and regulatory context. The license is available to individuals who provide financial or investment recommendations related to regulated products or entities in the UAE, whether through digital or traditional media. Applicants must register with the SCA and adhere to relevant regulatory requirements to ensure high standards of investor protection and reinforce public confidence in local financial markets. A Finfluencer is defined as an individual registered with the SCA who provides recommendations on the purchase, sale, or retention of financial products or virtual assets. This may also include guidance on financial services or local financial instruments, delivered through traditional or digital media. This could involve social media content, blog posts, podcasts, participation in public forums, seminars or media appearances, as well as the provision of financial commentary, analysis, or opinion. Finfluencers engage the public through a variety of formats, sharing content that includes financial advice, information, discussions, and evaluations of investment opportunities or products relevant to the UAE market. Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on image by Freepik
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Left behind: These pets ended up in shelters, thanks to South Florida's housing crisis
Austin's family lived in an apartment and were facing eviction, so last June they surrendered their energetic shepherd and Siberian husky mix to an animal shelter in Fort Lauderdale. Frankie, a 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat, and his brother Mellow were left outside the same shelter, Abandoned Pet Rescue, in April with a handwritten note: 'We've had such a wonderful time with our owners but unfortunately with the changes in the economy, they have to relocate back home to Jamaica.' These 'changes in the economy' — the higher cost of housing and living coupled with the expenses of feeding and paying for veterinarian care for a pet — are driving people to surrender their animals to local shelters in high numbers, shelter managers told the Herald Editorial Board. The stories can be heartbreaking, like the email sent to Abandoned Pet Rescue from the owner of a 50-pound 'super-friendly' dog named Marley saying, 'We would never give her up, a member of our family, if we had a choice.' But more than heartbreaking, these stories also reflect the damage South Florida's housing and affordability crisis has done to families, including our beloved domestic animals who can become collateral damage when humans have to make tough choices about their financial situation. It's all part of the Shrinking Middle — the name of the Herald Editorial Board series highlighting the challenges of affording a middle-class life in South Florida. And who picks up the slack? Taxpayers who fund government-run animal services and nonprofits like Abandoned Pet Rescue and others. Individuals can help, too, if they're able to foster or adopt. Housing crisis Increasingly, shelter operators say, the decision to give up a pet is being driven by having to downsize, move out of state or move in with family where they cannot bring their cats or dogs. One-time pet fees charged by apartments can run upwards of $500 and monthly pet fees charged by some make already expensive rents even harder to manage, Kara Starzyk, shelter manager at Abandoned Pet Rescue, told the Herald Editorial Board. 'In these situations, they really love their pets,' she said. Financial hardship isn't the only reason pets end up at shelters. Irresponsible or abusive owners and the over-breeding of dogs for financial gain are also part of the problem. But the housing crisis has contributed to overcrowding at Miami-Dade's largest animal shelter, run by the county, according to Animal Services Director Annette Jose. In 2024, there were 300 dogs and cats surrendered to Animal Services because of housing-related issues, Jose told the Editorial Board, and so far this year, the number has reached 130 pets. These numbers are important because Miami-Dade's shelter on Northwest 79th Street in Doral is already over capacity, forcing the county to use an overflow facility in Medley. In 2019, the county normally housed 200 to 300 dogs. Last Thursday, there were 572 dogs, Jose said. Pandemic effect The COVID-19 pandemic was a disruptor and a turning point. Early in the pandemic, Miami-Dade and other governments paused or reduced spaying and neutering services, likely leading to new pet births, the Herald reported. Toward the end of the pandemic, housing and rent prices began to skyrocket. Beyond that, there's been a fundamental change in how people live in Miami-Dade, Jose said. 'We have gone from a mostly single-family house residential community to now we have so many condos, and that's a change that's happened maybe in the last decade,' she said. With condos come pet fees and restrictions on size or type of pet, such as pitbulls. Jose told the Editorial Board that Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has contacted the Miami Association of Realtors to work on removing barriers to pet ownership in housing. 'Obviously, we need homeowners associations and property management firms to buy into this and help us promote pet ownership, because it's going to improve the lives of their residents,' Jose said. We agree. Miami-Dade's overcrowded pet shelter isn't just a logistical issue — it's a moral one that requires collective action. Likewise, our housing crisis isn't just a real estate phenomenon. It impacts every facet of the lives of South Floridians, and the pets are feeling it, too. Pet adoption information: Miami-Dade Pet Adoption and Protection Center: 3599 NW 79th Ave., Doral; call 311 or 305-468-5900; adoptmiamipets@ pet search: Miami-Dade's Medley Shelter: 7401 NW 74 St., Medley; call 311 or 305-468-5900 Abandoned Pet Rescue: 1137 NE 9th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-728-9010; info@ pet search and adoption applications:
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Heyworth agriculture program earns prestigious state honor
HEYWORTH, Ill. (WMBD) — A central Illinois school district was given an enormous honor for their achievement in agriculture. Heyworth's Junior and Senior High School Agriculture and Future Farmers of America program was recognized as the 2024-2025 Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agricultural Education Program. This award is dedicated to agricultural programs that are the toughest and most creative of all and reflects Heyworth's agriculture program achievements and growth from 2020 to 2025. 'Having the opportunity to provide these experiences for the students has always been the highlight of my career.' said Kara Barling, director of Heyworth's agricultural program. 'We are creating industry leaders by exploring careers and encouraging students to be involved in our local community.' Fine Art Fair returns to Peoria Heights The recognition is through the National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program initiative and highlights exceptional agriculture programs that provide robust experiential learning and dynamic leadership opportunities for students. Over the past year, Heyworth FFA collected 228 pounds of food and raised $1,400 for the village's food bank. They also volunteered 340 hours in community service projects. There are more than 160 students ranging from 8th grade to 12th grade involved in the agricultural department, which is almost 40% of their school's population. Enrollment in the school's ag program has gone up by 43% in the last five years, the school said in a news release. In the coming years, the district said, students could have a chance to earn dual credit in Ag Economics and Horticulture classes through Heartland Community College Students involved learn skills such as agribusiness, plant science, power and technical systems and animal science along with career-preparing activities. The Heyworth agriculture program will now represent Illinois in the NAAE Region IV competition for the Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agricultural Education Program Award, a national-level recognition scheduled to be awarded later this year Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Telegraph
The best pubs and bars in Cornwall
The Cornish are sniffy about lager. Why would anyone drink something so tasteless when there's such a good choice of proper ales from long-established micro breweries (including Korev's Cornish lager), not to mention the chilled ciders and array of home-grown gins. Thanks to tourism, the county's age-old granite pubs set high on clifftops or tucked away beside estuaries can turn a decent living. Many pubs have upped their food game, buying direct from farmers and fishermen, instead of from a supplier's freezer, and introducing dishes that owe more to Ottolenghi than KFC. For further Cornwall inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, beaches, cream teas, things to do and how to plan the perfect holiday. West Cornwall Tinners Arms The main bar at the Tinners Arms with its roaring fire is little changed from its origin as a dorm for the builders of the medieval church next door. It's a sociable pub, a mix of locals and visitors back from a sunset walk out to the headland (a 30-minute round-trip). There's a slew of real ales – Tinners or Mermaid are the beloved classics – and local handcrafted gins, including one made using rock samphire. The food is tasty farmhouse fare. Blue Anchor Inn There has been a working brewery at the Blue Anchor Inn for 600 years. Originally a resthouse for monks, the interior of this thatched, town-centre pub with its flagstone floors is full of character. Its most popular brew, Middle, a traditional sweet bitter, was originally made to welcome home soldiers from the First World War. It even has a skittle alley that hosts live music sessions on Thursdays. At the rear there's a large garden. Halzephron Inn Steeping in smuggling history, this medieval freehouse on a remote clifftop on the Lizard has the best sunset view in Cornwall. You can sit outside and bask in the last warm rays of the sun before it sets over Land's End. Inside there's a choice of cosy bars with high-backed chairs as well as separate dining room that serves traditional pub fare. Expect a good choice of Cornish beers on tap, plus local gins and vodkas. A short walk away is Church Cove which featured in the BBC's Poldark. The Old Success Inn The perfect place to grab a pint and watch the sun set into the Atlantic after stretching your legs on the clifftop walk to Land's End. Owned by St Austell Breweries, this historic pub has open fires in winter and outdoor seating with panoramic sea views in summer. There are 16 small batch brewed beers to cover all tastes from IPA to lager including a new AI-generated recipe called Hand Brewed by Robots. The South Coast The Shipwrights Arms This lovely old waterside pub nearly closed a few years ago before the local community banded together to buy it. The main bar areas are low-beamed and cosy but the key reason to come here is to drink good beer or a local gin and tonic out on the terrace that is just feet from the water. This is a beautiful stretch of the Helford, one of those places that makes you feel that's all's well in the world. There's a good choice of comfort food too. Check the website for live music nights, usually a folk or jazz band. Pandora Inn This thatched pub has a gorgeous waterside setting in a creek off the River Fal with tables set out on a long pontoon jutting out into the water. Inside, there are old ship's timbers, low ceilings and flagstone floors. It's popular with locals and sailors who moor their boats alongside, and there's a good selection of St Austell ales, locally brewed lager and ciders, and a decent wine list with a wide choice of wines by the glass. As for food, picture a traditional pub menu, that's very well executed and based around locally sourced produce. The car park is small; park back up the road on summer evenings. The Blue Peter Inn Tucked away in the absurdly photogenic fishing village of Polperro, this is a Grade-I listed free house, rated for its well-kept beers from up-and-coming West Country breweries including the Cornish Crown, Otter, Bays and Fish Key brews. The chatty welcoming staff will also mix you a mean bloody Mary and, in winter, a mulled rum cider. There's live music every Friday and Saturday from March to November, usually local solo performers. It's a 10-minute stroll from the car park as no cars are allowed in the village centre. The North Coast Blue Bar, Porthtowan On summer evenings surfers and families gather at picnic tables on the terrace overlooking this popular surfing beach to watch the sun set into the sea. Parking isn't a problem as there's a large car park nearby. Inside it's a large barn of a place but the friendly efficient crew run a tight ship. Order a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar ale brewed in Rock and a plate of spicy chilli nachos. The Watering Hole The Watering Hole claims to be the only bar that is actually on a beach in Britain and often finds itself in the paper after storms when it teeters on the edge of a sand cliff high above the sea. It sits on three-mile Perranporth Beach, which is a great place to watch the sun go down in a blaze of glory into the sea on a summer's evening, and it's one of the liveliest places for a drink on this coast. There's also a wide-ranging programme of regular live music and plenty of space to get up and dance. The St Kew Inn This 15th-century inn deep in the countryside near Port Isaac has a wonderful atmosphere, and food and drink to match. Fires crackle on winter days and in summer there is plenty of space in its garden. The ales are from the nearby St Austell Brewery, there's Cornish Rattler cider from Healeys Farm near Newquay and wines are sourced from Camel Valley vineyard down the road. The food has won awards, using local produce where possible and the Sunday roast is legendary. How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. Gill Charlton is a regular writer in the Telegraph's travel pages. She has lived in Cornwall for 25 years and loves to walk along the coastal path and reward herself with a proper steak pasty and a pint of Betty Stogs ale.
Arab Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Boursa Kuwait concludes strategic IR workshops highlighting global trends
KUWAIT CITY, Apr 26: Boursa Kuwait successfully concluded two high-impact workshops on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in collaboration with the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), bringing together capital market professionals, corporate leaders and investor relations (IR) practitioners for a day of insightful discussions and practical training. The workshops provided IR practitioners with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of international best practices and the evolving impact of global trends on the investor relations landscape. The event also formed part of Boursa Kuwait's ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the critical role that the IR function plays in supporting listed companies and enhancing market transparency. Commenting on the success of the event, Boursa Kuwait Director of Investor Relations Mr. Fahad Al-Besher said, 'These workshops reflect our ongoing commitment to empower listed companies with the tools and knowledge to advance investor relations capabilities within the Kuwaiti capital market and build a more transparent and accessible investment environment. By connecting global perspectives with local relevance, we are equipping market participants with the tools to foster investor confidence and drive sustainable market growth. I would like to sincerely thank our partners at MEIRA, our speakers and all attendees for their ongoing dedication to advancing investor relations in the region.' The first session, titled 'From Global Trends to Local Impact – Understanding Macro Sentiment from the World to Kuwait,' was led by Jaap Mejer, Head of Sell-side Research at Arqaam Capital and offered a comprehensive analysis of global macroeconomic trends and their ripple effects across the GCC, with a particular focus on Kuwait. Topics included interest rate trajectories, capital flows, regional fiscal sustainability and Kuwait's evolving regulatory and institutional landscape. 'Our session offered a timely overview of how macroeconomic dynamics—ranging from shifting monetary policies to geopolitical risk—are shaping investor sentiment and influencing capital flows across the GCC. By connecting these global trends to Kuwait's economic and regulatory context, we aimed to equip stakeholders with actionable insights to navigate today's complex market environment. I'd like to thank Boursa Kuwait for the opportunity to share these perspectives and for their continued leadership in advancing financial literacy and transparency,' stated Mr. Mejer. Meanwhile, the second session, 'How to Best Target and Engage with Investors,' was given by Mr. Sam Ryan Siahpolo, Partner at Instinctif Partners, who shared practical strategies for identifying, engaging, and retaining diverse investor types. Participants gained valuable insights into building targeted engagement plans, aligning corporate messaging with investor expectations, and leveraging disclosure and ESG commitments to broaden their shareholder base. Speaking at the event, Mr. Siahpolosaid, 'Engaging with Kuwait's capital market professionals on how to refine investor targeting and deepen engagement strategies was a rewarding experience. As IR continues to evolve in both scope and complexity, companies must adapt their approaches to align with the expectations of a global investor base. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Boursa Kuwait for hosting this initiative and for their commitment to strengthening IR capabilities in the region.' 'Today's sessions highlighted the importance of continuous learning in an ever-evolving market landscape. Our long-standing strategic partnership with Boursa Kuwait reflects a shared commitment to advancing the IR function in Kuwait and across the region. At MEIRA, we believe our success is built on the dedication of our members and the expertise of our partners. I would like to thank the bourse for its unwavering support and its efforts to equip market participants with the tools and insights needed to thrive in today's dynamic financial environment,' said MEIRA CEO Paolo Casamassima. Mr. Mohammad Abdal, Chairman of the Kuwait chapter of the Middle East Investor Relations Association spoke about the rapidly evolving IR field, saying: 'Investor relations is becoming a core pillar of effective corporate strategy and capital market development. In Kuwait, advancing IR standards is essential to building investor trust, promoting transparency and enhancing the global competitiveness of our market. The Middle East Investor Relations Association and its Kuwait chapter are proud to support initiatives that equip listed companies with the skills and knowledge needed to engage more meaningfully with investors and adapt to evolving stakeholder expectations.' Organizing enlightening workshops and other educational initiatives form an integral part of Boursa Kuwait's Corporate Sustainability strategy, which aims to create a lasting and meaningful impact on the communities where it operates. These programs also reinforce the exchange's unwavering commitment and continuous efforts to equip all market participants with an in-depth understanding of the functioning of capital markets and various tools and techniques required to make informed investment decisions and effectively meet investors' needs. It also aligns with Goal 4 - Quality Education - and Goal 17 - Partnership for the Goals - of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
