BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraq has signed a series of strategic agreements with international energy companies to develop more than 60 gigawatts of new electricity generation capacity, as part of a broad push to overhaul the country’s power sector. Speaking at the 11th Iraq Energy Exhibition and Conference in Baghdad, Electricity Minister Ziyad A...
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s efforts to expand its share of the fast-growing global halal market are being slowed by an unresolved dispute between two government bodies issuing halal certificates, a regulatory overlap that exporters say has raised costs, weakened credibility and limited market access. According to the Daily Sun, exp...
BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraq’s cabinet has approved the nationalization of petroleum operations at the West Qurna 2 oilfield, one of the world’s largest, citing concerns over sanctions affecting Russia’s Lukoil. The decision follows a service contract previously signed with Lukoil and is intended to prevent potential disruptions to crude produc...
DUBAI, UAE (MNTV) — The United Arab Emirates has amended its Commercial Companies Law to formally reinforce the Emirati status of companies established in the country, a move aimed at boosting their international competitiveness and access to global markets. Speaking at a media briefing, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marr...
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — The Asian Development Bank committed $2.57 billion in sovereign financing to Bangladesh in 2025, more than doubling its support from the previous year, as the country navigated political transition and economic pressure amid a challenging global environment. ADB said the expanded funding was designed to support long-...
ABU DHABI, UAE (MNTV) — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and global payments firm Mastercard have introduced a mobile-first virtual card number solution for businesses, marking the first such rollout across the Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region. The new platform, Fintech reported, is designed to address growing demand amo...
MOSCOW (MNTV) — Russia is planning to open its first Islamic bank, potentially as early as 2026, as authorities move to expand Sharia-compliant financing for the country’s sizable Muslim population, a senior lawmaker said. Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, said officials are actively working on creating...
CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) — The Japanese government will provide a $22 million grant to finance the construction and delivery of a pioneering diving support vessel (DSV) for the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), officials said. The grant, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is aimed at strengthening the authority’s maritim...
CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) — Egypt’s credit card usage has grown steadily over the past four years, supported by expanded banking infrastructure, but digital wallets and instant payment platforms are increasingly taking the lead, according to data from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The figures indicate a modernizing financial ecosystem, even as t...
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (MNTV) — The United Arab Emirates has raised the minimum monthly salary for Emirati citizens working in the private sector to 6,000 dirhams ($1,633), effective from January 1, 2026, as part of measures to enhance economic security for nationals. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization said the increase app...
