BRUSSELS — The European Union has confirmed plans to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as part of its strategy to manage migration along one of Europe’s busiest routes. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando, who emphasized the role of this initiative in enhancing maritime safety while curbing migrant arrivals. Libya, where control is split between rival western and eastern factions, has been a major transit route for migrants attempting a dangerous sea crossing to Europe since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. The funding…
Author: Editorial Team
Meriam ElOuazzani, Vice President – Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Censys and Ryan Elzein, Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East, Rilian. The initiative identifies and addresses sensitive assets in government, civilian, and humanitarian agencies, strengthening cyber resilience in the country. Dubai — Censys, the authority for Internet intelligence and insights, is partnering with Rilian, a technology provider of agentic AI solutions, to launch Operation Digital Shield in the UAE. By combining cybersecurity intelligence and automated cyber defense strategies, the initiative intends to strengthen the protection and integrity of cybersecurity assets across Critical National Infrastructure (CNIs) in the UAE.…
Taibah University is organizing the “Event Planning” program as part of the MicroX initiative to equip national talent with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and manage events through an accredited learning experience that combines theoretical and practical training. The program comprises 60 training hours and awards participants a university-accredited certificate. It offers 1,000 seats, with registration continuing until capacity is reached. The program is part of the university’s efforts to develop professional capabilities, enhance the quality of training, and enable participants to acquire best practices in event planning and management based on professional standards. The university invited those…
MADRID — Spain on Thursday blasted Italy’s “demagoguery” for calling for its exit from the Schengen zone after hordes of migrants arrived from Morocco in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. It also summoned Italy’s ambassador to Madrid to lodge a protest. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said earlier Thursday he was “in favor of closing the Schengen area with Spain”, claiming “Irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a danger to national security.” “The images coming from Ceuta show how the Madrid government’s decision to grant Spanish, and therefore European, citizenship to over 500,000 irregular immigrants is profoundly wrong and encourages human…
MONTREAL — Canadian police are investigating a possible hate-motivated attack on a mosque in Winnipeg after shots were reportedly fired at the building while community members were inside, mosque officials said on Thursday. No one was injured in the Wednesday night shooting at the Rahma Islamic Centre in the capital of Canada’s Manitoba province. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday denounced the shooting as an “appalling” act of Islamophobia. “This violent act of Islamophobia is appalling and has no place in Canada. I’m grateful no one was injured,” Carney said on X. “Law enforcement has my full support as…
OpenAI and Anthropic staff are reportedly circulating an open letter urging the U.S. government to back an international AI framework. This document has been deliberately designed to pace the development of advanced AI models. Bloomberg reported the petition, which is also being distributed among workers at Google DeepMind, warns rapid progress in automating AI research poses significant risks which could soon outpace human understanding and control. The letter calls on the U.S. government to support global technical and governance tools capable of regulating the speed at which frontier AI systems are built and deployed. Sources told the news outlet the…
The Ministry of Defense Health Services has conducted its first remote robotic surgery (tele-surgery) between two of its medical facilities, highlighting the readiness of its digital infrastructure to deliver advanced healthcare regardless of geographical limits. The successful ureter procedure connected the operating room at Prince Sultan Military Medical City in Riyadh with the King Fahd Military Medical Complex in Dhahran via a secure, high-speed network. This enabled the lead surgeon to operate remotely while a local surgical team handled supporting procedures inside the operating room. Authorized through collaboration with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the breakthrough paves the way…
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump cannot deny migrants detained inside the United States a chance for release on bond. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued the decision with a vote of two to one, with a judge appointed by Trump in the majority. The decision deepened a split between federal appeals courts over the administration’s mandatory detention policy. Four other appeals courts have also rejected it, while the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans and Eighth Circuit in St. Louis have sided with the Trump administration.…
VOX Cinemas has teamed up with Dubai Economy and Tourism to launch Emirati Chefs x VOX, a limited-time dining experience that brings some of the UAE’s most exciting homegrown culinary talent to THEATRE by VOX Cinemas. Available from 29 July, the collaboration invites moviegoers to enjoy an exclusive menu inspired by Emirati flavours before settling in for the latest blockbuster. Designed to elevate the premium cinema experience, the initiative combines fine dining with world-class entertainment, proving that a trip to the movies can be about much more than popcorn. The specially curated menu features three signature dishes created by renowned…
MADRID — Spain deployed military units to bolster security in its North African enclave of Ceuta as migrants surged by sea and land from Morocco into the territory on Thursday. State television TVE reported that 2,000 to 3,000 people had crossed into Ceuta on Thursday. At least 15 people drowned while trying to reach the Spanish territory. Local officials had appealed to Madrid for help after a recent rise in attempted crossings, but there there were chaotic scenes on Thursday as border controls apparently broke down. Video footage showed hundreds of migrants swimming or floating on inner tubes from the…