Truecaller, the global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communications, has officially announced a significant milestone: its monthly active users in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region have surpassed 100 million. This represents a 19% year-on-year growth for the company and includes both Android and iOS users.
According to Rishit Jhunjhunwala, Truecaller’s CEO, the growth is fueled by the rapid increase in smartphone and mobile data adoption across the MEA region. He noted that many of these markets are “mobile first,” where a mobile number acts as the primary identifier. The company plans to continue strengthening its presence and partnerships in the area, believing it is a key region for future growth. Truecaller’s largest markets in the MEA include Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Ghana, and Jordan, where the app is used on 20-45% of connected smartphones.
Israel Secures Landmark $35 Billion Gas Export Deal with Egypt
JERUSALEM — In what is being hailed as the largest export deal in Israel’s history, the country has signed a $35 billion agreement to supply natural gas to Egypt. The deal, spearheaded by partners in the Leviathan gas field, will see the export of roughly 130 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to Egypt through 2040, or until the total contract amount is delivered.
This new agreement is a major expansion of a previous 2019 deal, effectively tripling the amount of gas to be supplied to Egypt. The project will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase, set to begin in 2026, will deliver 20 bcm of gas, contingent on the completion of new pipeline infrastructure. The second phase, involving the remaining 110 bcm, will follow the full expansion of the Leviathan field and the construction of a new transmission pipeline from Israel to Egypt.
The deal is a strategic move for both nations. For Israel, it solidifies its position as a key energy provider in the Eastern Mediterranean and is expected to bring substantial revenue. For Egypt, it helps secure a long-term energy supply to meet its growing domestic demand, which has outpaced its own gas production. The agreement also strengthens Egypt’s role as a regional energy hub.
