GameStop has begun shutting down hundreds of brick-and-mortar outlets across the United States, signalling another sharp contraction in the physical videogame retail business as consumer spending patterns and distribution models continue to evolve. The videogame retailer, once a ubiquitous presence in shopping malls and high streets, has confirmed that a significant number of stores have been closed or earmarked for closure as part of an ongoing rationalisation […]
Bitcoin’s derivatives market has thinned to levels last seen in 2022, with aggregate open interest sliding sharply as leveraged traders cut exposure amid quieter price action and tighter funding conditions. Data compiled from major crypto derivatives venues show total open interest across futures and perpetual contracts falling to the lowest point in more than two years. The drawdown reflects a sustained retreat by speculative traders who […]
Binance has moved deeper into the intersection of digital assets and traditional finance by introducing perpetual contracts linked to gold and silver, offering round-the-clock trading and USDT settlement as the exchange broadens its derivatives portfolio beyond cryptocurrencies. The launch positions the platform to tap demand from traders seeking continuous exposure to precious metals without the constraints of conventional market hours. The new products, described by the exchange […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Airlines operating from the Gulf sharply curtailed services to Iran on Friday as unrest inside the country prompted rapid operational reviews, disrupting travel links between Dubai, Doha and several Iranian cities while carriers weighed safety and regulatory considerations. Schedules published by Dubai’s airport operator showed multiple cancellations on routes linking Dubai with Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad. A spokesperson for flydubai said all services […]
African policymakers and market operators are accelerating efforts to deepen trade within the continent by leaning on digital payment systems that promise faster settlements, lower costs and broader access for businesses of all sizes. The push comes as governments and private players seek to convert the African Continental Free Trade Area from a legal framework into a functioning commercial ecosystem that moves goods, services and capital more […]
Decentralised derivatives trading on public blockchains has crossed a defining threshold, with on-chain perpetual futures volumes touching about $12 trillion over the past year as traders migrated from centralised venues to faster, cheaper and more transparent rails. Data compiled across major protocols show that activity more than tripled through the year, with monthly volumes cresting near $1.8 trillion in October, underscoring how on-chain markets have matured from […]
RAKBANK has secured in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE to issue a dirham-backed stablecoin, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to anchor digital finance within a regulated banking framework. The approval places the Ras Al Khaimah-based lender among a widening circle of UAE financial institutions seeking to deploy tokenised money for payments, settlements and treasury use as demand accelerates across regional and […]
False social media posts masquerading as official council announcements have highlighted how generative artificial intelligence can be weaponised to mislead voters, placing new strain on public trust as political campaigning intensifies across the United Kingdom. The fabricated messages, which mimicked the tone, branding and urgency of genuine local authority notices, circulated widely before being taken down, prompting concern among regulators, councils and election specialists. Several of the […]
SELANGOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 January 2026 – Etiqa has launched Etiqa’s Project Firefly a new environmental initiative dedicated to conserving one of Malaysia’s iconic firefly habitats while uplifting the livelihood of the communities living along Sungai Panjang in Sabak Bernam, who rely on eco-tourism and the mangrove ecosystem. The programme was carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and the Sabak Bernam District Council.
(L to R) Raffi Ismail, Marketing & Partnership Manager, Malaysian Nature Society; Fukhairudin Mohd Yusof, CEO of Etiqa General Insurance Berhad; Zaki Parmin, Assistant Agricultural Officer, Sabak Bernam District Council; Amran Hassan, Chief Strategy Officer, Etiqa
Through Etiqa’s Project Firefly, Etiqa is taking proactive steps to preserve and sustain the ecosystem by planting 130 Sonneratia Caseolaris or locally known as Berembang saplingsand 200 Sonneratia Caseolaris seeds, undertaking habitat restoration works, and mobilising 50 Etiqa volunteers for a community-driven initiative along Sungai Panjang, covering a total stretch of 10 kilometres. In addition, an awareness session was conducted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Faculty of Science which aimed to educate participants on the ecological importance of fireflies and the need for long-term conservation.
Fireflies play an important role as indicators of mangrove ecosystem health, which in turn supports environmental balance and benefits surrounding communities. However, across Malaysia, firefly populations are declining due to rapid habitat loss caused by river pollution, deforestation, and increasing light pollution along mangrove-lined rivers. These threats not only endanger native species but also affect the livelihoods of local fishermen and villagers who rely on healthy river ecosystems and firefly-based eco-tourism. Protecting congregating firefly zones through the preservation of adequate vegetation buffers along riverbanks is therefore critical to ensuring the long-term survival of these species and the sustainability of local livelihoods.
Fukhairudin Mohd Yusof, CEO of Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (EGIB) said, “We initiated Etiqa’s Project Firefly as conserving native firefly species is deeply connected to the well-being of the communities that co-exist around them. By conserving firefly habitats, we are not only protecting an irreplaceable part of Malaysia’s biodiversity but also helping sustain the eco-tourism and river-based livelihoods of Sungai Panjang residents. This reflects Etiqa’s purpose in Making the World a Better Place that includes meaningful environmental action which strengthens both nature and society, creating long-term value for future generations.”
Mr. I.S Shanmugaraj, Executive Director of Malaysia Nature Society says, “Fireflies are natural indicators of a healthy mangrove ecosystem, and their presence reflects the overall condition of our rivers and surrounding environments. We commend Etiqa for taking proactive steps through Etiqa’s Project Firefly to address the growing threats of habitat degradation along fireflies corridor. Meaningful conservation requires collective action, and we hope this initiative will inspire more companies to collaborate with environmental organisations and local communities to protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods for the long term.”Hashtag: #Etiqamy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Etiqa
Etiqa is a multi-channel distributor of Insurance and Takaful products via its 10,000 agency force, 44 branches and 17 offices, over 490 bancassurance network (via Maybank branches, third-party banks, as well as co-operatives and brokers) through its presence in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia.
In striving to make the world a better place, Etiqa’s Sustainability journey focuses on internal initiatives that reduces its carbon footprint and increases its social impact, as well as external solutions that allow its clients to do the same.
Bank of New York Mellon has outlined plans to offer tokenised deposit accounts to institutional clients, marking a significant step by the world’s largest custodial bank into blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. The initiative is designed to mirror traditional deposit balances on a private blockchain, allowing large investors to move cash and securities with greater speed while remaining within the perimeter of regulated banking. BNY said the proposed structure […]
Crypto exchange OKX has cut a significant portion of staff from its institutional business as part of a wider global restructuring, people familiar with the matter said, marking one of the most substantial internal overhauls at the company since it began expanding beyond retail trading. According to one source with knowledge of the changes, roughly one-third of the institutional sales team has exited, either through redundancies or […]
Authorities in Iran cut internet connectivity and restricted mobile phone services overnight as demonstrations flared across several cities, a move that marks a sharper phase in efforts to contain public dissent. Crowds were reported in neighbourhoods of the capital Tehran and in provincial centres, with security forces deployed around key junctions, universities and government buildings. The digital blackout, which activists said began late in the evening […]
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang has dismissed concerns over California’s proposed billionaire tax, signalling that the potential personal cost would not alter his commitment to building the company’s artificial-intelligence business in the state where it was founded. Speaking in public remarks this week, Huang said he was “perfectly fine” with the idea of paying higher taxes, framing the debate as secondary to access to talent and the long-term […]
Greenlogue/AP Dhafrah PV2 Energy Company, the Abu Dhabi-based owner of the Al Dhafrah PV2 solar photovoltaic plant, has priced an $870.75 million green bond with a final spread of 100 basis points over US Treasuries, tightening decisively from initial price thoughts in the T+130 bps area as demand built through the bookbuild. The Regulation S benchmark-sized, amortising Eurobond carries a coupon of 5.794%, re-offered at par, and […]
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company occupies a pivotal place in the UAE’s insurance sector, combining longevity with scale as it navigates a market shaped by regulatory tightening, rising claims costs and growing demand for specialised cover. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in the capital, the company was the first insurer licensed in the emirate, a distinction that continues to inform its market stature more than five decades […]
UGREEN has moved deeper into the artificial intelligence race for consumer storage with the unveiling of its NASync iDX 6011 and iDX 6011 Pro at CES 2026, positioning the devices as a rethink of how people search for and manage personal and small-business data. Rather than relying on folder structures, filenames or rigid metadata, the new network-attached storage systems introduce an AI-driven search layer designed to surface […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has unveiled a new financing push aimed at reshaping how water projects are funded and delivered across developing economies, signalling a shift towards larger-scale capital mobilisation and technology-led solutions. The initiative, branded as the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, sets out to mobilise $2 billion from domestic and international financiers to back projects that improve water access, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE’s national railway operator Etihad Rail has outlined the rollout of the country’s first passenger railway network, marking a significant expansion of the federal transport system that will connect 11 cities and regions through a series of strategically located stations scheduled to become operational this year. The passenger rail service builds on the national freight network that has been running since 2023 and […]
Donald Trump has said he will not grant a presidential pardon to Sam Bankman-Fried, the former chief executive of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, making clear that the disgraced entrepreneur will continue to serve his prison sentence if Trump returns to the White House. Speaking in an interview, Trump dismissed speculation that he might intervene on behalf of Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in federal […]
Binance has revised how it presents proof of reserves data, changing the display to show a clearer one-to-one backing of customer balances after incorporating platform-held assets and liabilities into its calculations. The update addresses long-running questions from users, analysts and regulators about how reserve ratios are derived and whether headline figures accurately reflect the exchange’s ability to meet withdrawals under stress. The crypto exchange said the revised […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Turkish Airlines has broken ground on a broad package of infrastructure projects valued at more than 100 billion lira, signalling a long-term commitment to expand capacity, resilience and training as global aviation demand continues to normalise. The carrier said the programme, equivalent to about $2.3 billion at prevailing exchange rates, spans eight new facilities across several locations in Türkiye and is designed to […]
Internet access and telephone networks across Iran were cut late on Thursday after crowds poured onto streets and residents shouted from rooftops in multiple cities, according to witnesses and digital rights monitors, marking a sharp escalation in nationwide unrest. Demonstrations flared after an appeal by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi for a coordinated show of defiance, prompting gatherings in the capital Tehran and other urban centres. Within […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah Public Libraries has drawn its centennial programme to a close after a year of events that traced a century of public access to knowledge in the emirate, ending with a children’s puppet theatre performance at the Heart of Sharjah and creative workshops at Kshisha Park. The finale brought together families, educators and cultural practitioners, reflecting the institution’s long-standing focus on literacy, learning […]
Discord has taken a decisive step towards becoming a publicly traded company, confidentially filing paperwork for an initial public offering that could come as early as March and valuing the platform at about $15 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The move places one of the world’s most influential online communities at the centre of a tentative revival in technology listings after a prolonged […]
