Don’t give smartphones to kids under 11, UK mobile phone firm says
London, United Kingdom - One of Britain's biggest mobile network operators said on Sunday it will warn parents they should not...
Gross written premium rises by 12.7% in Q4 2023 to US$14bn, says CBUAE
ABU DHABI, UAE - The UAE insurance sector continued to grow in Q4 2023, as reflected by the increase in...
Economy
Business
Penguin, SkyBlue ink MoU
The aim is to redefine outdoor media advertising in Abu Dhabi.
- Penguin and SkyBlue will collaborate on key advertising locations, with this being the Malaysian firm’s first move into the Abu Dhabi market.
- This follows an agreement between the Malaysian outdoor advertising company with the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai.
Business
Invest Qatar launches azure open AI GPT-powered chatbot ‘Ai.SHA’
DOHA, QATAR - The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) has partnered with Microsoft to develop Ai.SHA, an innovative AI-powered...
- This initiative positions Invest Qatar as one of the first investment promotion agencies (IPA) in the world to adopt advanced technology.
- This will pave the way for transformative changes in professional interactions between investors and businesses in Qatar.
Geostrategy
5 WEF reports shaping your 2024 agenda
From AI to the future of jobs and slow climb to gender parity, WEF reports provide insights into some of...
- Buffeted by a global energy crisis, inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability, the move to clean energy has faced a challenging time.
- This year's top 10 emerging technologies will likely become increasingly familiar in the years ahead as they help tackle some of our biggest challenges.
Geostrategy
Google agrees to settle $5bn data privacy breach lawsuit
Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked...
- The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google's practices had infringed on users' privacy by "intentionally" deceiving them
- Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked as they visited Google Analytics in private browsing mode
Business
US bans import of Apple Watch due to patent clash
A US import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect, after the Biden administration opted not to veto...
- Apple last week paused its US sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
- The move came into effect on the online Apple Store on December 21, with retail locations ceasing sales December 24.
Economy
Saudi Arabia jumps to second rank in ICT index among G20 nations
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia jumped 10 ranks to second place among the G20 countries according to International Telecommunication...
- The index monitors the economies of 169 countries to measure their progress in ICT services through two main pillars ‘universal connectivity’ and ‘meaningful connectivity.
- It reflects the robust and developed digital infrastructure, with an increase of 99 percent of Internet penetration rate in Saudi Arabia.
Arts & Culture
7,000 digital marriage contracts delivered in Abu Dhabi since Oct
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has introduced a new service that allows marriage contracts to be...
- This is the first service of its kind and it enables the marriage contract to be sent directly to the spouses during the contract session.
- Customers can review the available times of the authorized officiants and receive the results of the suitors' medical examination automatically.
UNCTAD eWeek focuses on AI risks, e-commerce growth in developing countries
At UNCTAD eWeek 2023, experts stress the importance of aligning AI development with Sustainable Development Goals to mitigate risks and...
- At UNCTAD eWeek 2023, experts stress the importance of aligning AI development with Sustainable Development Goals to mitigate risks and ensure a secure digital future.
- Australia committed $2 million to UNCTAD for e-commerce support in developing nations, as Kenya unveiled a national strategy to spur its digital economy growth.
Business
Bayanat, Yahsat to merge
It will benefit from revenue synergies, economies of scale.
- The merger will create an AI-powered space technology champion in the MENA region with an implied market capitalization of over US$4 billion.
- The combined entity will be vertically integrated and optimally positioned to capture regional, global opportunities in geospatial and mobility solutions.
Research
79% UAE employees think digital skills crucial for success
Dubai, UAE – About 79 percent of UAE employees believe digital skills are crucial for business success, and 84 percent...
- The survey included over 5,500 working adults from the UAE, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK
- A significant 81 percent of UAE employees also believe that businesses should actively foster the development of AI skills in their workforce.
Don’t give smartphones to kids under 11, UK mobile phone firm says
London, United Kingdom - One of Britain's biggest mobile network operators said on Sunday it will warn parents they should not...
Company News
Latest News
AI tools still permitting political disinfo creation, NGO warns
The success of ChatGPT, from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, has over the last year ushered in an age of popularity for generative...
Scientists launch hub to channel quantum power for good
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Scientists will work to channel the huge emerging power of quantum computers for the common good at a...
Science
Facebook, Instagram services restored after widespread outages
More than half a million users across the globe reported issues earlier in the day, with many saying they were...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
Apple’s changes contradicts European rules, 34 firms complain
Brussels, Belgium - Changes Apple is making to its services in the European Union "make a mockery" of new antitrust rules...
- Companies have expressed doubts about how much Apple's changes would ultimately broaden consumer choice and digital competition.
- Apple in January announced it was modifying how its iOS operating system, Safari browser and App Store operate in the 27-nation EU.
Economy
Web Summit: 24 MoUs signed between Qatari institutions and global tech firms
Doha, Qatar - Web Summit Qatar 2024, the world's largest tech events debut in the Middle East and Africa, ended...
- The MoUs included the one between and the Web Summit whereby the former will sponsor the summit over the next four years
- Over four days, the summit hosted 15,453 attendees from 118 countries, who witnessed the tech innovations, 10 percent of which came from Qatar
Facebook parent Meta to stop paying Australian news media
Meta had previously announced it would not renew content deals with news publishers in the United States, Britain, France and...
- Extending a global retreat from news content, Meta said it would scrap the Facebook News tab in Australia
- The decision had been on the cards, but will come as a hammer blow for Australian news outlets already struggling to stay afloat