Category: General

Three in four people would be happier living in a smart and connected city, according to a new report by Mastercard, which features insights related to human aspirations and technological progress for smart cities in the Middle East. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in urban areas, which places a renewed focus on urban living to ensure that the cities of the future are secure, sustainable and inclusive.

Mastercard Cities of the Future Report revealed that respondents in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE overwhelmingly agree that living in a smart city would make them happier (76%).

Priority innovations span connected buildings, smart travel and AI-powered services

The majority (62%) of respondents in Middle East and North Africa identified smart and connected buildings and homes as the highest priority innovation, followed by smart travel services (61%). Technological advancements widely generate more optimism than worry. Becoming less physically active is the top concern, followe
d by reduced human interaction and the loss of traditional jobs. AI and machine learning (58%) are considered the most important technologies for future cities.

Increased sustainability emerges as an aspiration

Public awareness of the need for climate action is high, and smart solutions to transform to clean and renewable energy (59%) emerged at the top of the list of anticipated outcomes across the MENA region. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, 85% of respondents believe their cities are ‘maturing’ or ‘mature enough’.

Urban residents seek digital access to services, strong data security and super-app convenience

MENA residents would like to see digitization make their living environments, workplaces, and payment experiences, more efficient. Digital access to services like banking, utilities, and transportation tops (59%) the list of aspects that would enhance their daily living experience in a city. This is followed by strong privacy and secure personal data (58%) and a single digital platform (super-app) tha
t integrates all services and information (53%).

Partnership crucial for urban innovation

Over the past year Mastercard has embarked on several initiatives with government entities, including the development of urban mobility. It is involved in the Riyadh Metro project, and also partnered with the Greater Amman Municipality to roll out Jordan’s first transit payment ecosystem, paving the way for seamless digital payments across the public transport network. In Dubai, alongside the UAE government, Mastercard is establishing a global Centre for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology to accelerate generative AI research. Mastercard partnered with the Administrative Capital for Urban Development to build the efficient digital infrastructure that will enable the New Administrative Capital to become Egypt’s first cashless city. Through working with public and private sector partners, Mastercard helps develop solutions to advance sustainability, small business success, digital transformation, tourism development, educat
ion, and urban mobility.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

A meeting held in Sana’a discussed cooperation mechanisms between the Yemeni Authority for Standardization, Metrology , Quality Control , the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the capital secretariat to improve national production in clothing and embroidery field.

The meeting, which included the Executive Director of the Authority, Sam Al-Bashiri, and members of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anwar Al-Husseini and Nasr Al-Mutahni, touched on the problems and obstacles facing clothing and abaya sewing , embroidery factories , centers, and ways to address them.

At the meeting, Al-Bashiri affirmed the readiness to cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce to develop the clothing, embroidery and abaya manufacturing sector in a way that contributes to developing its productivity and achieving self-sufficiency in local markets and giving it the opportunity to export to foreign markets.

Al-Bashiri noted that the Authority is in the process of launching an electronic platform aimed at facilita
ting the process of registering data on imported goods before importing them and automatically providing importers with all the details, requirements and standard specifications required for those goods in order to facilitate the import process in accordance with the approved specifications.

Al-Husseini and Al-Mutahni appreciated the Authority’s cooperation and its efforts to improve the national product in general , the clothing and embroidery sector, as well as implementing rehabilitation and awareness programs for the sector about the approved Yemeni standard requirements and specifications.

They stressed the importance of strengthening and developing cooperation and coordination to serve common interests.

Source: Yemen News Agency

The General Authority of Zakat has opened the sixth Eid clothing exhibition of martyr President al-Sammad for 75,000 beneficiaries of the poor and needy with a total of 626 million Y.R.

The exhibition coincides with the National Steadfastness Day under the slogan ‘A Hand Protects, a Hand Builds.’

In the presence of Supreme Political Council Mohammed al-Houthi, advisor to the President of the Supreme Political Council Mohammed Meftah said the exhibition project is one of the victories achieved by the Yemeni people over the most ferocious aggression war and most malicious conspiracy through the establishment of the General Authority for Zakat.

He pointed out that the Eid clothing project will benefit 75,000 poor and needy people in the capital Sana’a and there are tens of thousands in various provinces in addition to the many zakat projects.

Meftah pointed out that the Zakat Authority is on its way to improving its performance and projects in addition to enhancing awareness work for taxpayers.

He pointed o
ut that the exhibition contains clothes made from local products for many participating productive families, with the support of the Authority in partnership with many entities, most notably the Productive Families Program in equipping factories for many families.

Meftah indicated that there is a great trend to support economic empowerment projects, adding that last week the zakat financing portfolio was launched and 30 percent of the revenues of major taxpayers were allocated to support economic empowerment projects.

Source: Yemen News Agency

An Israeli intercepting rocket on Thursday exploded above the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, our reporter said on Thursday.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Amman: Warmer temperatures are expected to prevail across most regions on Thursday, with a notable rise surpassing typical averages for this time of year by approximately 8 to 9 degrees Celsius. Areas like the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba are likely to experience relatively hotter temperatures. Additionally, some high-level clouds are expected to grace the skies, accompanied by moderate southeasterly winds, occasionally picking up speed, particularly in the eastern regions of the kingdom.

As per reports from the Jordan Meteorological Department, a slight decrease in temperatures is projected for Friday. Despite this, warm weather will persist across most parts of the country, with the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba regions feeling warmer than usual. Cloud cover is expected to increase gradually, with medium to high-altitude clouds rolling in.

By midday, a weak atmospheric instability is anticipated to set in, leading to scattered showers across various regions, occasionally accompanied by thunders
torms, especially in the southeastern areas. As the day progresses into nightfall, the precipitation is forecast to extend to limited sections of the central and eastern parts of Jordan. Wind conditions are expected to remain moderate southeasterly, with intermittent periods of increased activity, potentially causing dust storms, particularly in desert locales.

The kingdom is set to remain under the influence of this weak atmospheric instability on Saturday, maintaining warm weather conditions throughout most regions. Cloud cover is expected to persist, with scattered showers and thunderstorms forecast for several parts of the northern, central, and eastern regions by midday. Similar to Friday, wind patterns will remain moderate southeasterly, occasionally becoming active, leading to possible dust storms, especially in desert areas. By late night, the likelihood of rainfall is expected to diminish, accompanied by a decrease in cloud cover.

Today, temperatures in East Amman are forecast to range between 29 a
nd 16 degrees Celsius, while in West Amman, temperatures are expected to range between 27 and 14 degrees Celsius. The northern highlands are likely to experience temperatures between 25 and 13 degrees Celsius, and the southern highlands between 26 and 12 degrees Celsius. Temperatures at the Dead Sea and the Aqaba Gulf are expected to range between 33 and 19 degrees Celsius and 35 and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Source: Jordan News Agency