UAE’s Yahsat has restored Thuraya satellite services in parts of Southeast Asia and China by reconfiguring its Thuraya 2 satellite after Thuraya 3 experienced an anomaly. However, service remains unavailable in the Asia-Pacific region east of Thuraya 2’s footprint.
Fils, a UAE-based digital infrastructure provider, has teamed up with Arab Financial Services (AFS) to promote sustainable practices and climate action across the Middle East and North Africa. This partnership leverages Fils’ fintech technology and AFS’s digital payments expertise to integrate sustainability into business operations, financial transactions, and customer journeys.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market is set to reach $14.78 billion this year and $25 billion by 2029. WebCastle Technologies, recently entering the Saudi market, won the Best E-Commerce Agency Award at the 6th Middle East Retail & E-Commerce Summit and Awards KSA for their role in accelerating digital growth.
STEMpedia has successfully concluded the fifth edition of its global innovation fest, Codeavour 5.0 International. The competition encourages children to develop innovative projects using PictoBlox, a visual programming software, while learning AI, coding, and robotics. Supported by various organizations, the event attracted over 1200 participants from 18 countries.
Wink Pay, in collaboration with Visa and Codebase Technologies, has launched Lebanon’s first service for instant issuance of Visa prepaid virtual cards. This innovative solution facilitates secure, transparent payments and digital financial inclusion, targeting over 5 million Lebanese, particularly benefiting those without traditional bank accounts.
Moroccan Minister Ghita Mezzour discussed potential AI collaborations during her meeting with OpenAI in San Francisco. The discussions aimed at tailoring AI systems for Morocco’s needs and leveraging the country’s tech talent. This visit highlights Morocco’s commitment to becoming a central hub for technological innovation.
Omar Al-Omar, Chairman of CITRA, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on global business and daily life at the International Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Kuwait. The forum discussed the integration of AI in enhancing governmental and private sector operations, highlighting the shift towards digital smart procedures and services.
The 13th Bahrain National Robotics Competition, under the patronage of Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, concluded successfully, showcasing young talent in STEM. Organized by the Ministry of Education and Britus Education, the competition emphasized environmental sustainability through robotics, with significant participation from students across various educational levels.
In 2023, Bangladesh’s internet subscriber count rose to 131 million, including 7 million new users, with 118.49 million on mobile and 12.88 million on broadband. The total mobile subscribers also increased to 190.81 million, driven by 10.61 million new users last year, according to BTRC data.
Indonesia is set to launch SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband within two weeks, following approvals from Indonesian authorities. This initiative aims to enhance internet accessibility across remote areas and the new capital city, promising a significant boost in connectivity and digital inclusion for the geographically diverse nation.
