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Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Shura Bureau reviews a number of government responses
Muscat: The Bureau reviewed held its 12th regular meeting of the second annual sitting of the Tenth Term (2023–2027), chaired by Tahir Mabkhoot Al-Junaibi, Deputy Chairmen of the Council, in the presence of Council Bureau members and Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council. During the meeting, the Bureau reviewed a number of government responses and official correspondences, along with several reports submitted by the Council's permanent committees and working groups. The session also saw the approval of a set of follow-up tools submitted by members of the Council. The reports discussed was the report of the working team formed to review the benefits of the Social Protection System. Established in January 2025, the team was tasked with assessing the current benefits in light of emerging societal needs and concerns. The report outlined the team's methodology, including analysis of relevant literature, benchmarking against international best practices, and identifying legislative and regulatory gaps. It also presented the outcomes of discussions with stakeholders and experts, and proposed a set of actionable recommendations. The Bureau also examined the report of the Digital Economy Working Team, which was formed to support Oman's strategic shift towards a robust digital economy in alignment with Oman Vision 2040. The report included key findings derived from consultations, meetings, and sectoral analyses, as well as recommendations to enhance the digital ecosystem in the Sultanate. The Bureau reviewed the report of the working group assigned to assess and evaluate various proposals and reports submitted to the Council. The meeting further covered several reports from the Council's standing committees. Among them was the Health and Social Committee's report on promoting investment in the private healthcare sector. The report included an overview of the committee's efforts, data analysis, stakeholder engagements, and key recommendations. The Bureau resolved to include this report in the agenda of the next Council session. Also reviewed was the report by the Services and Public Utilities Committee on enhancing the quality of telecommunications services in Oman. The report analysed the performance of major companies, sectoral financial data, and provided recommendations aimed at improving service quality nationwide. The Bureau reviewed reports of the Youth and Human Resources Committee, including a proposal to establish a national centre for gifted Omanis, a report on the implementation of the Wage Protection System, and a report addressing the grievances of employees laid off by Al Bashayer Company. The session also reviewed responses from government entities to Council inquiries. These included a response from the Minister of Health regarding the lack of employment for biomedical engineering graduates. The Ministry noted efforts to hire national talents through various recruitment programmes, including on-the-job training, and highlighted the development of a dedicated lab to address HR challenges in the health sector. The Bureau reviewed a response from the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) concerning the cost of internet services. The response emphasised the Authority's ongoing efforts to enhance competition, monitor pricing, and introduce tailored packages for different user segments, in line with the Telecommunications Regulatory Law. The Ministry of Labour also submitted a letter regarding international labour conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference, attaching fifteen instruments for consideration by the legislative authority. The Bureau considered of external participation reports detailing the Council's involvement in regional and international parliamentary assemblies, as well as additional follow-up tools and correspondences submitted by Council members.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Vodacom invests R100 million to expand rural network in KwaZulu-Natal
Vodacom has announced a R100 million investment to build 106 new base station sites in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal Image: File image Vodacom has announced a R100 million investment to build 106 new base station sites in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, aiming to improve mobile connectivity for hundreds of thousands of people currently without reliable access. According to the mobile operator, the rollout will cover 23 municipalities across 11 districts, including Amajuba, eThekwini, Harry Gwala, iLembe, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Uthukela, and Zululand, uMhlabuyalingana, uMfolozi, uMlalazi, uMsinga, uMzumbe, uMgeni, Ray Nkonyeni, Mandeni, eNdumeni, eDumbe, Msunduzi, Newcastle, and Nqutu. The project forms part of the company's Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme, which is focused on expanding network infrastructure in underserved regions. The company says it plans to complete the deployment within the current financial year. Research from GSMA indicates that access to high-speed broadband is crucial for rural development; however, many deep rural communities still face limited connectivity. Estimates suggest that around half of the global population, around 4 billion people remain without internet access. "Ensuring network connectivity for individuals living in deep rural areas is fundamental to Vodacom's commitment to extending service to those in remote areas,". "This aligns with our goal of connecting everyone, regardless of whether they live in urban centres, townships, or rural locations, which requires investment. We are focused on eliminating barriers and empowering citizens in rural and township communities to enjoy the same network experience as those in metropolitan areas and this way reap the economic benefits of the Digital Economy," Imran Khan, Managing Executive for Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal region said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Khan added they aim to complete the rollout within the current financial year and are seeking support from authorities to speed up site approvals. "We are committed to constructing and activating these new sites within this financial year. To achieve our goal and expedite the deployment, we are seeking collaboration from the authorities, particularly in minimising lengthy site approval times. We believe this can be accomplished to assist us in executing a comprehensive rollout of rural sites, facilitating digital transformation, thereby enabling numerous individuals in these regions to access the socio-economic benefits of the internet age. IOL Tech Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Vodacom invests R100 million to expand rural network in KwaZulu-Natal
Vodacom has announced a R100 million investment to build 106 new base station sites in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal Image: File image Vodacom has announced a R100 million investment to build 106 new base station sites in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, aiming to improve mobile connectivity for hundreds of thousands of people currently without reliable access. According to the mobile operator, the rollout will cover 23 municipalities across 11 districts, including Amajuba, eThekwini, Harry Gwala, iLembe, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Uthukela, and Zululand, uMhlabuyalingana, uMfolozi, uMlalazi, uMsinga, uMzumbe, uMgeni, Ray Nkonyeni, Mandeni, eNdumeni, eDumbe, Msunduzi, Newcastle, and Nqutu. The project forms part of the company's Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme, which is focused on expanding network infrastructure in underserved regions. The company says it plans to complete the deployment within the current financial year. Research from GSMA indicates that access to high-speed broadband is crucial for rural development; however, many deep rural communities still face limited connectivity. Estimates suggest that around half of the global population, around 4 billion people remain without internet access. "Ensuring network connectivity for individuals living in deep rural areas is fundamental to Vodacom's commitment to extending service to those in remote areas,". "This aligns with our goal of connecting everyone, regardless of whether they live in urban centres, townships, or rural locations, which requires investment. We are focused on eliminating barriers and empowering citizens in rural and township communities to enjoy the same network experience as those in metropolitan areas and this way reap the economic benefits of the Digital Economy," Imran Khan, Managing Executive for Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal region said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Khan added they aim to complete the rollout within the current financial year and are seeking support from authorities to speed up site approvals. "We are committed to constructing and activating these new sites within this financial year. To achieve our goal and expedite the deployment, we are seeking collaboration from the authorities, particularly in minimising lengthy site approval times. We believe this can be accomplished to assist us in executing a comprehensive rollout of rural sites, facilitating digital transformation, thereby enabling numerous individuals in these regions to access the socio-economic benefits of the internet age. IOL Tech Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
Business Upturn
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Ethereum Community Releases Comprehensive Report Outlining Ether's Bull Case to Institutional Investors
New York, United States: Report Underscores ETH's Value Proposition as the 'Digital Oil' Powering a Global Digital Economy Report's Contributors Include Etherealize's Vivek Raman, Founder and CEO of Mike Silagadze, and Other Leading Figures from the Ethereum Community Members of the Ethereum community today announced the release of a new report targeting institutional investors that presents 'The Bull Case for ETH.' The report, which can be found in full here, represents a collaborative effort between many prominent leaders and researchers from the Ethereum ecosystem, with contributors that include Etherealize co-founders Vivek Raman, Danny Ryan, and Grant Hummer, as well as Founder and CEO of Mike Silagadze. The report outlines why ETH – the native asset underpinning Ethereum's transformative ecosystem – is among the most significantly mispriced assets in global markets, offering one of the largest asymmetric upside opportunities across all asset classes today. With the global financial system poised for a generational transformation as more and more institutions begin to put their assets onchain, Ethereum has emerged as the most viable base layer for a fully digital and composable financial ecosystem – already hosting over 80% of all tokenized assets and serving as the default platform for stablecoins and institutional blockchain infrastructure. As the report explains, ETH is more than just a store of value – it is the fuel, collateral, and reserve asset fueling the financial system of the is digital oil powering the financial digital economy. The report details why ETH should be considered a core allocation in institutional strategies that prioritize long-term value creation, technology exposure, and future-proof financial infrastructure – laying out its case across three core sections: Understanding ETH: The Digital Oil of the Digital Economy – Explores the relationship between Ethereum and ETH, ETH's utility and unique properties, proper valuation frameworks for assessing ETH's value as an asset, and the reasons it is currently undervalued and underrepresented in the portfolios of institutional investors looking for asymmetric opportunities and productive stores of value. Ethereum: The Infrastructure Driving ETH's Ascent – Covers the structural, technological, and economic drivers behind the Ethereum network's growing momentum, and presents a case for why Ethereum's likely position as the foundational layer of the global digital financial system will support and amplify ETH's economic importance. Ethereum & AI: The Economic Engine of the Autonomous Economy – Evaluates Ethereum's potential role and value in a financial system powered by autonomous agents. 'We've reached a tipping point where Ethereum and ETH are no longer optional for traditional finance,' said Vivek Raman, co-founder and CEO of Etherealize. 'ETH is becoming the indispensable asset at the heart of a new, digitally native financial system, where tokenization and onchain infrastructure are the norm, not the future. Simply put, ETH is digital oil: the essential fuel for tomorrow's global financial rails. The chance to be early in this transformation and to harness ETH's unmatched value is more powerful than ever. Our goal with this report is to educate institutions at this critical moment.' 'Institutional investors have been so focused on Bitcoin and its narrative as a store of value that they have overlooked an asset with far greater growth potential,' said Joseph Lubin, Founder and CEO of Consensys and Co-founder of Ethereum. 'ETH not only shares the same store of value properties that made Bitcoin popular, but it also has extensive utility, offers more predictable scarcity, and provides a regular yield, positioning it as the ultimate productive reserve asset. As Ethereum further entrenches itself as the backbone of the digital economy, ETH becomes more indispensable – not only as the fuel powering Ethereum, but as a strategic investment in the infrastructure of the future.' The report's full list of contributors includes: Danny Ryan, Vivek Raman, Grant Hummer, Zach Obront, Rodrigo Vazquez, Ryan Berckmans, Leo Lanza, Hanniabu, Mike Silagadze, Anthony Sassano, Ryan Sean Adams, Andrew Keys, Tim Lowe, Maria Shen, Ken Deeter, Amanda Cassatt, Aftab Hossain, William Mougayar, Mariano Di Pietrantonio, Agustin do Rego, and Valeria Salazar. About Etherealize Etherealize is a project focused on accelerating the adoption of and bringing institutional assets onto Ethereum. Founded in 2024, Etherealize serves as a bridge between traditional and decentralized finance, offering research, educational content, and products that support the integration of real-world assets onto the Ethereum blockchain. Etherealize aims to help establish Ethereum as the digital back office for Wall Street – enabling a new era of financial infrastructure that is digital, programmable, transparent, and open to the world. For more information, visit About is a liquid staking protocol that allows stakers to retain control of their keys while delegating validator operations to a node operator. Formed under a shared vision of what DeFi should be, offers stakers a decentralized, non-custodial staking solution that can serve as a building block for web3 infrastructure. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Zawya
11-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Emarat launches its ‘Mega Rewards' campaign featuring exciting prizes
Dubai, UAE – Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC (Emarat), a pioneer in UAE's energy sector, has launched its 'Mega Rewards' campaign, as part of its loyalty program, EmCan, aimed at enhancing customer engagement and rewarding loyalty across its retail network. Running from June 2 to December 2, 2025, the campaign offers UAE residents the opportunity to win an array of high-value prizes, including two Nissan Patrol 2026 vehicles, over 70 iPhone 16 Pro devices, Air Arabia tickets, and six cash prizes of AED 10,000 each. Customers can qualify by spending AED 80 or more on fuel or AED 30 or more on non-fuel purchases and scan their EmCan QR code at the time of purchase. All eligible entries during the campaign period will be entered into a digital raffle draw overseen by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), with winners selected electronically and notified via their registered contact details. Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Chief Retail Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Emarat, commented: "The Emarat mega rewards campaign reflects our continued focus on enhancing the customer experience through meaningful and memorable engagement. By combining ease of participation with high-value rewards, we aim to strengthen our connection with the communities we serve and reinforce the value of loyalty." The campaign also reflects Emarat's alignment with the UAE's Digital Economy Strategy, which seeks to double the digital economy's contribution to national GDP over the next decade. By eliminating paper-based raffle processes and integrating the entire campaign through the EmCan Loyalty App, Emarat reinforces its commitment to digital transformation, innovation, and sustainability. Download the EmCan App at to learn more about the raffle and stay updated on all offers and upcoming promotions. About Emarat Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC (Emarat) is one of the UAE's leading energy providers, established in 1980 to meet the nation's growing energy demands. Emarat operates an extensive network of service stations across the UAE, offering high-quality fuel, convenience retail, and automotive services, alongside a comprehensive range of commercial fuel, natural gas, and lubricant products. Emarat is committed to health & safety standards, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and community well-being, aligning with the UAE's vision for a sustainable future.
