EU gives accent to landmark rules on artificial intelligence
Brussels, Belgium - The European Union's 27 member states on Friday approved landmark rules on reining in artificial intelligence, passing a key...
Business
Dubai RTA awards US$95m contract to upgrade ticketing system
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract to upgrade the existing nol (card-based ticketing...
Business
Interview
Arab world warming up to data analytics: Expert
Data analysts are already helping businesses set marketing strategies, explains Jadd Elliot Dib, founder and CEO of Pangaea X.
- Through data analytics, SMEs can get a better understanding of their customers behavior
- Big Data has the ability to positively impact all industries in the region by creating new revenue streams
Economy
Saudi Arabia contactless payments highest in MENA region
Saudi Arabia had achieved contactless payment adoption of 94 percent, which is higher than even the EU.
- This is part of the Saudi Central Bank’s strategy to build on the goals of the Financial Sector Development Program
- The program aims to reduce cash transactions while raising electronic payments to 70 percent of all transactions by 2025
Business
UAE’s new data law promises privacy
The law to include features of gold-standard data protection regulations such as Europe's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the UK's...
- The law would include the right to be forgotten, the right to access, and the right to information
- It will have a low cost of compliance, so as not to burden Small and Medium Enterprises
Business
FB family of apps return online after seven hours
Users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp across the world, including the Gulf countries, remained heavily affected for hours.
- The outage was first reported at around 1545 GMT or 7.45pm UAE time
- Washington, Paris, Dubai and Delhi were few major cities that remained affected
Geostrategy
Facebook chooses ‘profit over safety,’ says whistleblower
Frances Haugen, a 37-year-old data scientist from Iowa, has worked for companies including Google and Pinterest. She said in an...
- Haugen had shared a trove of Facebook documents alleging the social media giant knew its products were fueling hate and harming children's mental health
- During the 2020 US presidential election, she said, the company realized the danger that such content presented and turned on safety systems to reduce it.
Business
Microsoft announces pricing for new Office suite
Office 365 has been renamed Microsoft 365, and will be available on Windows PCs, Apple’s Mac machines, and mobile platforms,...
- Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 will run on Windows 11, Windows 10, and the three latest macOS versions
- A Microsoft account and an internet connection are mandatory for subscribers to access and use Microsoft 365 or Office 2021
Science
UN desires digital equality for young and old
To mark the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations has called for digital equality to be applied to...
- These technologies can help older citizens stay connected with loved ones, attend a religious service
- Older persons have often been left more isolated during the pandemic
Science
Digital currency can speed up global payments: CBUAE
The CBUAE has in a study found that central bank digital currencies can substantially improve international trade payments.
- The findings come from a report that has been generated from the first Multiple CBDC Bridge (mBridge) Project
- This project is a step closer to making cross-border trade payments easier, safer, and in real time
Interview
More UAE women take up STEM courses
The Emirati women's share in online enrollments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics rises to 42 percent in 2021 from...
- The Emirati women's share of online enrollments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics increased to 42 percent in 2021 from 38 percent in 2019
- Women’s enrollment in entry-level professional certificates also went up in the country from 26 percent in 2019 to 32 percent in 2021
Geostrategy
Encrypted messaging app Signal hit by late Sunday outage
San Francisco: Encrypted instant messaging app Signal was hit by an outage late Sunday that interrupted services on the platform....
- Internet outage monitor DownDetector said users began reporting network problems late Sunday.
- Signal saw a surge in downloads earlier this year after WhatsApp tweaked its terms of service and sparked privacy concerns.
EU gives accent to landmark rules on artificial intelligence
Brussels, Belgium - The European Union's 27 member states on Friday approved landmark rules on reining in artificial intelligence, passing a key...
Business
Company News
Ooredoo Algeria gets new CEO
Business
Latest News
Yahsat to invest US$100m
Business
AI of the tiger: Tiny camera ‘protects’ predator and people
Experts from Clemson University in South Carolina and several NGOs published research last month on their work using AI-enabled cameras...
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan ink pact on digital transformation, innovation
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan here on Sunday...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
New update allows ChatGPT to use internet for fetching data
New York, US - The generative AI platform ChatGPT can now fetch data directly from the internet and gather up-to-date information...
- "ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources," OpenAI said.
- Until now, ChatGPT's responses to user queries were based on a vast database, which did not contain information from after August 2021.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia launches new TV channel to highlight ‘rapid progress’
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has launched a new TV channel called Saudia Alaan (Saudi Now) to highlight...
- The channel will showcase the kingdom’s “rapid progress” towards the Saudi Vision 2030 and its recent advancements, which are reflected in the diverse events
- The airing of the channel comes at a time when the kingdom is witnessing a significant increase in the number of events, exhibitions, and conferences
Geostrategy
Several UAE entities sign pact to implement ‘Sharjah Sat-2’
Sharjah, UAE -- A cooperation agreement was signed between the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences & Technology (SAASST), the...
- Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UOS), witnessed the signing.
- The outcome of this project will help diverse parties in making decisions, developing future plans, and conducting scientific research.