The newly formed regional entity, Aquila Capital Middle East, will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and led by Zaki Nuseibeh, a seasoned executive with over 18 years of experience in international banking and investing. His appointment marks a key leadership move as the company seeks to scale its operations and influence in the region.

“Our decision to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi reflects our deep confidence in the UAE’s economic growth and its rapidly evolving energy infrastructure,” said Nuseibeh. “We aim to serve local investors by offering access to Aquila Capital’s sustainable real asset strategies, while co-investing in projects that promote long-term development across the GCC.”

Aquila Capital Middle East will focus on deploying capital into energy transition and infrastructure assets—particularly in areas like renewable energy, data centers, and sustainable real estate. The launch follows the In-Principle Approval (IPA) granted by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), pending final permissions.

Aquila Group’s CEO and co-founder Roman Rosslenbroich highlighted the strategic significance of the expansion: “Abu Dhabi will serve as both a regional hub and a bridge between our European and Asia-Pacific operations. The UAE’s innovation-driven vision and its strong regulatory environment make it an ideal partner for our sustainable investment goals.”

Founded in 2001, Aquila Group manages over EUR 15.4 billion in assets and has executed more than EUR 25 billion in transactions globally. With a portfolio spanning clean energy, infrastructure, and real estate, the group continues to lead in driving sustainable solutions and investment opportunities worldwide.

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PozGlass represents a breakthrough in low-carbon cement technology, transforming post-consumer glass into a high-performance supplementary cementitious material (SCM). This funding represents another significant milestone as the company scales its solution to address cement’s substantial carbon footprint.

“Cement production accounts for over 7% of global CO₂ emissions and creative solutions like Progressive Planet’s pilot plant in Kamloops is exactly what we need to reduce emissions here in B.C. while boosting economic development,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “With support from the British Columbia Innovative Clean Energy Fund, Progressive Plant is scaling up their pilot project, which is focused on reducing the cement industry’s carbon footprint by transforming waste materials into valuable resources.”

“PozGlass is the right solution at the right time,” said Steve Harpur, CEO of Progressive Planet. “We’re tackling two major environmental challenges at once: reducing cement’s carbon footprint and creating a high value use for post-consumer glass that would otherwise end up in landfills. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy and Climate. The financial assistance of the BC Ministry of Energy allows us to scale up BC-based technology in BC.”

“This grant, alongside funding announced earlier this month and our strategic partnership with Lafarge Canada, is helping accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon cement industry,” said Randy Gue, Director, at Progressive Planet. “These investments are not just financial – they are a signal that industry leaders and government agencies recognize the potential of PozGlass to scale and make a meaningful impact.”

“This funding accelerates our mission to scale PozGlass, demonstrating its readiness for commercial adoption while enabling the cement industry to achieve significant emissions reductions,” added Harpur.

PozGlass offers a triple-bottom-line solution:

• Reducing emissions by replacing up to 50% of Portland cement, a major contributor to CO₂  missions.
• Sequestering carbon by permanently converting captured CO₂ into limestone.
• Diverting waste by repurposing post-consumer glass into a valuable industrial material.

Cement production accounts for over 7% of global CO₂ emissions, and sources for traditional SCMs like fly ash and slag are transitioning out. With Lafarge Canada already committed to purchasing all PozGlass produced at the pilot plant, Progressive Planet is well-positioned to scale a viable, made-in-Canada solution that supports both industry and the environment.

Progressive Planet’s Kamloops, British Columbia-based pilot plant is set to begin operations in October 2025, marking a key step toward scaling PozGlass production and accelerating its adoption across North America and beyond. The first phase of operations includes dry processing of post-consumer glass to remove contaminants and create coarse glass powder – the key ingredient in PozGlass.

In Phase 1, Progressive Planet will also manufacture additional coarse glass products such as CanBlast, a crystalline silica-free sandblasting media, which the company has sold for over a decade through a third-party manufacturer.

Phase 2 will introduce wet grinding of the coarse glass powder to produce PozGlass. Construction of the wet grinding facility is expected to be completed in late 2026, further enhancing Progressive Planet’s capacity to meet industry demand for sustainable building materials.

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Over half of Gen-Z professionals don’t want to take on a middle management role in their career. While 34% expect they will have to at some point in their career, despite not wanting to, 18% are adamant they’ll avoid middle management altogether.

Last year, major US corporations such as Meta and Citigroup announced job cuts, of which middle management roles made up 30%—leading to the period being tipped as the ‘great unboxing’.

Preferred route to progression
The Robert Walters poll found that 71% of Gen-Z would actually opt for an individual route to advance their career – one which focuses on personal growth and skills accumulation over taking on a management role (28%).

Jason Grundy, Managing Director of Robert Walters Middle East, comments:” Gen Z is known for their entrepreneurial mindset—preferring to bring their ‘whole self’ to projects and spend time cultivating their own brand and approach rather than managing others.

“However, this reluctance to take on middle management roles could spell trouble for employers later down the line.”

Generational differences
Unanimously, three-fifths (62%) of professionals point to older generations valuing middle management roles considerably more than their younger colleagues.

With only a fifth thinking it is equally valued across professionals of different ages.

Jason notes: “More senior professionals have usually committed years to one company, working their way through more traditional levels of management and as such have developed a greater respect for mid-level managers. Younger professionals, having entered the workforce in a largely remote or hybrid capacity with a huge focus on digital capabilities are less inclined towards complete company loyalty.”

Management stretched thin
When asked about the main deterrents to taking on middle management roles, 65% of Gen-Z professionals stated they were too high stress, low reward. Other factors mentioned were limited decision-making power (21%) & reduced personal growth (13%).

Jason comments: “Those new to middle management experience a steep step-up in workload, further expectations to be ‘always available’ to those they manage, as well as continuing pressure to hit their own targets – it’s clear how these roles can prove overwhelming and deter many from taking on the extra responsibility.”

Is the future is team-based?
Only 14% of Gen-Z professionals think the traditional hierarchical structure is still fit-for-purpose. Whilst over double the amount (30%) would opt for a flat, team-based structure if given the choice.

Jason adds: “Many younger professionals are less interested in ‘climbing the company ladder’ but it isn’t just them – an increasing amount of professionals of all ages feel as though multiple layers of management creates an ‘us vs. them’ attitude between the main ‘do-ers’ and ‘delegators’ of an organisation.”

Middle management reframed
Despite this, mid-level management roles remain vital, with 89% of employers stating that middle managers play a crucial role in their organisation.

Jason concludes: “It’s clear mid-level management remains a lynchpin of any organisation, and to keep these roles filled, employers need to innovate their strategies to make them more attractive – from providing more autonomy to regular workload assessments and clear upskilling opportunities.

“Embracing an ‘unbossed culture’ could be key in transforming the role from just being seen as an ‘unnecessary layer’ of management to a ‘facilitator’ who empowers their teams to take their own initiative. Employers should prioritise middle management now to avoid significant talent gaps in the near future.”

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Approximately a third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted annually, leading to severe environmental, economic, and social consequences. This not only exacerbates food insecurity but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, waste of resources, and economic losses. Boston Consulting Group estimates global food wastage at $230 billion annually.

Traditional quality checks are slow, error prone, and costly which leads to recalls and loss of trust. AgNext solves this with its patented AI powered solutions, replacing subjective assessments and lab delays with instant on the spot analysis. The solution brings digitized trust to global food supply chains.

Following this strategic investment by THG, AgNext will integrate Hedera’s cutting-edge distributed ledger technology (DLT) into its assurance and traceability platforms and devices – ensuring 100% traceability, transparency, immutability, and efficiency through self-executing smart contracts, eliminating the need for multiple intermediaries that currently populate the supply chains and drive-up end prices. Hedera being the most scalable, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient among blockchain protocols is especially well-suited for food supply chains.

Taranjeet Bhamra, Founder and CEO of AgNext, commented on the investment, saying: “We are excited to welcome The Hashgraph Group as a valued partner in our mission to revolutionize food supply chains. With THG’s expertise and technology, we are poised to enhance our quality assurance frameworks and create robust transaction assurance systems that will foster transparency and trust in the global agriculture and food sectors. This partnership marks a pivotal step in delivering innovative, cutting-edge solutions to our clients.”

AgNext and THG will also collaborate on joint go-to-market initiatives, including co-branded, Hedera-powered embedded devices, which will be offered to clients globally through a new Web3-centric joint venture established in Switzerland.

Stefan Deiss, Co-Founder & CEO of The Hashgraph Group, said: “THG brings deep expertise in designing, developing, and deploying enterprise-grade solutions on the Hedera network, delivered by our team of highly skilled, Hedera-certified engineers. With this strategic co-investment alongside Novo Holdings, we look forward to embarking on the tech-enablement journey with AgNext to drive the convergence of AI and Blockchain/DLT, while jointly bringing to market Hedera-powered AgriTech solutions that will enhance AgNext’s competitive edge in the Web3 era.”

Hedera leverages its unique Hashgraph consensus algorithm to achieve unmatched speed, security, and scalability. With low, predictable fees and a carbon-negative footprint, Hedera is governed by over 30 Council Members from the world’s leading organizations such as Abrdn, Dell, EDF, Hitachi, Google, IBM, Mondelēz, Standard Bank, and TATA, Hedera provides a trusted, quantum-resistant infrastructure for businesses and institutions worldwide.

Anindya Roychowdhury, Head of Global Partnerships at The Hashgraph Group, stated: “I’ve been closely following AgNext’s remarkable growth since its inception, and I’m thrilled that THG is now partnering with them to leverage Hedera as the foundation for their assurance and traceability platforms. With Taranjeet’s visionary leadership and the capabilities of Hedera, we are confident in creating world-leading, Web3-enabled solutions for the AgriTech industry.”

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At the heart of this initiative is a community-driven competition model that transforms traditional mining into a more engaging and rewarding experience. Unlike conventional mining structures that offer fragmented payouts, the model will reward participants based on each newly mined Bitcoin block, bringing back the excitement and fairness of early Bitcoin mining.

Rami Alsridi, Founder and CEO, Mining Grid said, “Our goal is to bring back the original vision of Bitcoin—a decentralized system where individuals can actively participate and benefit fairly. Our model ensures that individual miners have a real chance to win meaningful rewards, making mining more engaging and financially rewarding.”

This model provides an accessible and cost-effective entry point for individuals looking to participate in Bitcoin mining. By restoring fairness and decentralization to mining rewards, it fosters a global network where participants compete and collaborate, enhancing engagement while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.

Solaiman Al-Rifai, Founder and Board Member, Mining Grid said, “With over 50,000 app users, the demand for fair and competitive Bitcoin mining solutions is clear. This launch builds on the success of Mining Race and further strengthens our commitment to innovation and accessibility in the mining space.”

With Bitcoin’s mining difficulty reaching record highs and institutional players dominating the landscape, Cores Racing represents a transformative step in making mining more inclusive, rewarding, and competitive. Mining Grid continues to drive innovation as the industry evolves, ensuring that Bitcoin’s core principles of decentralisation and fairness remain at the forefront.

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“The MKH 8018 is a high-class shotgun model that rounds off our MKH portfolio at the top end,” says Kai Lange, senior product manager for the MKH series. “It has extremely low self-noise and truly excellent sound, very clear and pure due to the mic’s great off-axis rejection. Moisture resistance, minimal non-linar distortion, and a balanced audio signal at the transformerless, fully floating output are further benefits of the RF condenser technology, which Sennheiser has been perfecting for more than 60 years.”

Lightweight, non-modular, and with a tailored frequency response
To make the MKH 8018 as easy to handle as possible, the Sennheiser engineers have given it an aluminium housing to have less weight on a camera or boom pole. Also, the microphone is – unlike most of the other mics in the 8000 series – non-modular with a fixed XLR-5M output and integrated -10 dB pad against overdriving, filters for tailoring the frequency response, and an additional switchable -3 dB low-cut filter at 70 Hz.

As the MKH 8018 has been designed for broadcasting and filming applications, the usual extremely wide frequency response of the MKH mics has been limited to 40 – 20,000 Hz. This avoids any overloading of the mixing console with unhearable distortion below 40 Hz and above 20 kHz, where ultrasonic camera lens measurement systems are active.

Matrix inside
The MKH 8018 impresses with its homogeneous sound image, and can output MS stereo for further processing in the studio or on a mixer, or – via an internal matrix – XY stereo in a wide or narrow mode without the need for an external mixer. In XY-w, the mic emphasizes the side signal to a greater extent, thus capturing more ambience. In XY-n, the focus is more on the mid signal, giving the sound engineer more directionality.

The MKH 8018 is delivered complete with an MZQ 100 microphone clip, MZW 8018 foam windshield and a threaded plastic transport tube. The MZR 8000 camera adapter (pictured below on the right) wraps around the microphone body and ensures a secure fit with other mic clips and on cameras.

The MKH 8018 RF condenser stereo shotgun microphone is delivered complete with (from left to right) an MZQ 100 microphone clip, a threaded plastic transport tube, the MZW 8018 foam windshield and the MZR 8000, which wraps around the 8018 and securely adapts it to wider mic clips or camera mounts

Optional accessories for the mic are the MZS 20-1 suspension/pistol grip, the MZW 60-1 basket windshield and the MZH 60-1 hairy cover for outdoor use of the MKH 8018.

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The programme is supported by The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to prepare startups for the ongoing StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series. Spring Venture Services and global venture capital firm Salica Investments facilitate the programme, which provides founders with capital, expert in-house capability, and access to MENA’s leading investors to increase the likelihood of startup success.

Since its inception, “Raise” has successfully conducted seven bootcamps in preparation for 15 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events, helping 104 startups refine their investor readiness and secure essential funding. The programme provides entrepreneurs with hands-on workshops, fireside chats, and one-on-one office hours, ensuring they gain a strong foundation in fundraising, pitching, and business strategy.

A key highlight of the programme is the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series, where participating startups will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses before an esteemed panel of judges and an influential audience. These events are organised in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), and StartUp Bahrain. The events conclude with the announcement of the winning startup, which receives a cash prize deployed against key milestones, along with potential further funding and support from programme partners.

The participating startups in Cohort 8, categorized by industry, are:

Technology & AI
DOO is an AI-powered platform that enhances customer engagement, offering businesses an efficient way to personalize their customer interactions and streamline their services. Tamam provides an AI-driven order management system designed to help small businesses optimize their operations and manage orders effectively. Croozz Technologies introduces a telematics-based solution that rewards safe driving, encouraging responsible driving habits through real-time tracking and incentives.

Marketplace & E-commerce
BizBay is a digital marketplace that connects businesses for buying, selling, and investing, facilitating seamless transactions and growth opportunities. Cardue offers a platform for digital car care services, simplifying vehicle maintenance and repairs with on-demand service options. Ihdaa redefines gifting by integrating charitable donations, allowing users to send thoughtful gifts while supporting worthy causes.

Finance & Business Services
Safer provides innovative travel financing solutions, making it easier for individuals to plan and fund their trips. Rentat offers a digital solution for property management, automating tasks and streamlining processes for property owners and tenants alike.

Consumer & Lifestyle
Clany specializes in managing esports events, creating a platform that helps organizers execute successful and engaging competitions. Jalees offers an on-demand childcare platform, connecting parents with trusted caregivers for flexible childcare services. Seera provides a meal subscription service that supports local vendors, offering customers convenient meal options while helping food entrepreneurs thrive.

The Raise bootcamp continues to play a crucial role in fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing startups access to key industry leaders, investors, and potential partners.

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Users who have previously backed up their Google Photos to their QNAP NAS using MARS can rest assured that their existing backup data will remain intact and accessible. However, new backups from Google Photos to QNAP NAS will no longer function.

Alternatively, the company encourages users to follow this tutorial to continue backing up their Google Photos to QNAP NAS using Google Takeout.

We understand that this may impact some of our users who rely on MARS for Google Photos backup, and we sincerely appreciate your support and understanding. QNAP remains committed to providing robust and efficient backup solutions to protect your important data.

If users have any questions, they can contact QNAP Customer Service.

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The agreement seeks to support businesses and enterprises owned and managed by women in Abu Dhabi by offering exclusive deals, packages, and discounts to Council members. Additionally, it facilitates the promotion of local, artisanal, and creative products, as well as specialized services from women-owned businesses within the Council, leveraging Rotana Hotels’ extensive presence as a key hospitality and tourism hub in the UAE.

Her Excellency Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, emphasized the Council’s commitment to strengthening collaboration and forging strategic partnerships with both public and private sector entities. She stated:

“The Council is dedicated to expanding opportunities for female entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and supporting their business growth. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to introduce incentive programs and tailored initiatives that empower businesswomen to develop their ventures with a high level of creativity and innovation, ensuring their sustainable expansion both locally and internationally. This, in turn, contributes to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for business, investment, and entrepreneurship.”

Her Excellency further highlighted that such collaborations unify efforts to provide targeted initiatives that inspire and equip women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to scale their businesses successfully.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the partnership, she added: “We are pleased to collaborate with Rotana Hotels Group, a distinguished leader in the hospitality and tourism sector, known for its commitment to excellence and community engagement. This partnership marks an important step towards enhancing the services offered to our members, reinforcing the ecosystem that supports women-led businesses in Abu Dhabi.”

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The event was held in collaboration with the National Program of Coders, and supported by sponsors such as Emirates NBD, EDGE Group, Hale Education Group and the University of Birmingham, Dubai.

The three-day event culminated with a grand finale on 16 March 2025 at the University of Birmingham and was attended by students, teachers, parents and partners. The event’s theme for this year, ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing’ aligned with the Nation’s strategic vision to harness artificial intelligence for societal advancement.

The winning team, ‘Machine Mindset’, presented an AI-powered emotion detection system that analyses students’ emotions in real-time using DeepFace and face recognition. Runner-up teams at the event included ‘Data Minors’ and ‘ModernAItes’, both from GEMS Modern Academy. ‘STEMPALS’ from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills were adjudged the Best Female-majority team, and ‘Desert Innovators’ from the American Academy for Girls were declared Best Emirati-majority team.

A resounding success, the event showcased the incredible talent and innovative spirit of 289 young AI enthusiasts across 34 Nationalities and 44 registered schools, with participants working tirelessly to develop creative solutions addressing critical aspects of mental and financial wellbeing.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, said: “Strategic partnerships within the UAE’s AI ecosystem reflect the UAE’s vision and commitment to leveraging AI for the benefit of humanity. These collaborations bring together diverse sectors to create innovative solutions that address global challenges. By uniting key players, the UAE is driving transformative change that empowers both industries and communities.”

Dr. Al Mahmoud further added, “Partnerships have the power to fuel impactful AI innovations, shaping a resilient, sustainable future for all. Through this unified approach, the UAE is paving the way for a future where AI drives progress and serves humanity at its core.”

Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, said: “We are incredibly impressed by the ingenuity and dedication displayed by the students at InnovAIte 2025. The solutions they developed demonstrated the transformative potential of AI in addressing critical real-world and societal challenges, and the winning teams showcased exceptional talent in leveraging AI to create tangible, life-enhancing solutions.”

He added: “Emirates NBD is proud to have supported this initiative and to play a role in nurturing the next generation of AI leaders. The event served as a platform to connect and engage with top digital talent, presenting us early access to AI experts who have the potential to drive and contribute to the bank’s long-term success.”

Student presentations, workshops, and speaking sessions were held at the grand finale, where a panel of 25 esteemed judges, including experts from Emirates NBD, the University of Birmingham, EDGE Group, and Hale Education Group, as well as subject experts in various sectors evaluated the projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and presentation.

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