Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. Here are today's headlines.
Israeli tank fire injured two UN peacekeepers at the organisation's main base in southern Lebanon on Thursday. UN officials called it a deliberate attack. The UN said a "Merkava tank fired its weapon towards an observation tower at Unifil's headquarters” in a direct hit. It happened as Israeli air strikes on central Beirut on Thursday killed at least 22 and injured 117.
Dubai telecom services provider du has launched two new units to address growing demand for digital transformation services. The National reports that du Tech and du Infra will allow the company to dedicate more resources to their respective business segments. Du chief executive Fahad Al Hassawi said it was the next step in the company's transformation and expansion.
And star tennis player Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement. Nadal said in a video statement that he will stop playing in November. The 38 year old will appear in his final tournament at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
