Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Russian economy meltdown as Moscow hit with manufacturing crisis while inflation soars
Russia is in a manufacturing crisis as Vladimir Putin grapples with inflation.
The country is reportedly struggling to assemble aircraft after Western sanctions as companies struggle to obtain the necessary parts.
Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to Ukraine's internal affairs minister, claims that the current production volumes of the MC-21, a mid-sized airliner; Superjet New, Il-114, the latest being assembled in late 2021; and the Tu-214 are zero pieces.
Russian aviation expert Andrey Patrakov, the founder of AIM Group international aerospace experts network, told Sputnik, a Russian news agency and broadcaster, in November: "Russia has an acute problem of producing components for aircraft."
He added: "I recommend making early bookings because there simply can't be enough seats for everyone due to the fact that there are simply fewer aeroplanes.
Sunbeds 'attacked' and sprayed with anti-tourism slogans in Spanish holiday hotspot
Hundreds of sunbeds have been vandalised on the holiday island of Tenerife as locals continue to protest about overtourism.
"The Canary Islands are not for sale" and "the Canary Islands defend themselves" appeared scrawled across the beds. Authorities said they were spray-painted while other beds were slashed in the area of Arona last week.
Around 100 sunbeds were damaged at the Las Vistas Beach, while a further 136 were destroyed at El Camisón Beach next door, causing more than €5,000 (about £4,100) worth of damage.
Fátima Lemes, the mayor of Arona, criticised the vandalism, saying the acts are “an attack on the heritage of Arona” that harms both residents and visitors. She added that vandalism like this is punishable by law and called on the public to help identify those responsible.
Everything we know about Assad as he flees to Moscow over claims of 'new Arab spring'
When Hafez Assad died in 2000, parliament quickly lowered the presidential age requirement from 40 to 34. Bashar’s elevation was sealed by a nationwide referendum, in which he was the only candidate.
Hafez, a lifelong military man, ruled the country for nearly 30 years during which he set up a Soviet-style centralised economy and kept such a stifling hand over dissent that Syrians feared even to joke about politics to their friends.
Initially, upon coming to office, Assad freed political prisoners and allowed more open discourse. In the “Damascus Spring,” salons for intellectuals emerged where Syrians could discuss art, culture and politics to a degree impossible under his father. But after 1,000 intellectuals signed a public petition calling for multiparty democracy and greater freedoms in 2001, and others tried to form a political party, the salons were snuffed out by the feared secret police, who jailed dozens of activists.
How did Assad stay in power?
Assad slowly lifted economic restrictions, let in foreign banks, threw the doors open to imports and empowered the private sector. Damascus and other cities long mired in drabness saw a flourishing of shopping malls, new restaurants and consumer goods. Tourism swelled.
Abroad, he stuck to the line his father had set, based on the alliance with Iran and a policy of insisting on a full return of the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, although in practice Assad never militarily confronted Israel. In 2005, he suffered a heavy blow with the loss of Syria’s decades-old control over neighbouring Lebanon after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Who his is British wife?
Asma Al Assad, 49, was born in London in 1975 and her parents were Fawaz Akhras, a highly-rated cardiologist at the private Cromwell Hospital, and her mum Saha, a senior Syrian diplomat. She was sent to the fee-paying Queen's College in Marylebone, where it can cost up to £9k a term. Her brothers, Feras, 46, and Eyad, 44, are also doctors.
She graduated in 1996 from King College's London with a degree in computer science and French literature and had a successful career in investment companies such as JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank. Asma had planned to begin an MBA at Harvard University when she resigned and in 2000, married Assad. They have three children together, aged between 19 and 23.
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency Facebook page on August 8, 2018, shows the Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad carrying papers as she begins treatment for early-stage breast cancer at a hospital in the capital Damascus.
Why has the dictator fled to Russia?
Russian media confirmed Assad has been granted asylum "out of humanitarian considerations" after rebel forces seized control of Damascus. Russia is a staunch ally of Assad and has intervened in Syria's 13-year civil war in an effort to keep him in power, as the Kremlin has two key military bases in Syria.
In addition, Russian state TV said Russian officials were speaking to representatives of "the Syrian armed opposition" and that they had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions.
Could his wife come back to the UK?
Asma Al-Assad, who married into the brutal dynasty, has reportedly fled Syria and flown to Russia after being granted asylum by Vladimir Putin. She had been battling an aggressive form of leukaemia and is believed to have been with her daughter and two sons days before her husband fled Syria. Her parents still own the £1 million terraced house off the A40 in Acton, west London, where Asma grew up. Her family is not covered by UK sanctions, but her parents and brothers are under wider US sanctions regulations.
The High Court was told in 2020 that Assad is believed to have a frozen account with HSBC in London with a balance of more than £40 million. The British government said there has been "no contact or no request" for the Asma to return to the UK.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said there has no been contact for her to come back to the UK, he said: "The family are in Russia as far as we know, that's what Russian state media have said. We've certainly had no contact or no request for Mr Assad's wife to come to the UK."
Monday, 9 December 2024
Apple Set to Open Online Store and Flagship Retail Outlets in Saudi Arabia by 2026
Apple has announced a significant expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with plans to launch the Apple Store online in the summer of 2025. This new platform will offer Saudi customers the ability to shop Apple’s complete product range with Arabic-language support for the first time, enhancing accessibility and customer service.
Beginning in 2026, Apple will open the first of several flagship Apple Store locations across the country, furthering its commitment to deepening connections with Saudi customers. One of the highlights of this expansion will be an iconic store at Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, marking a milestone in the company’s growth in the region.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, expressed excitement over the expansion, stating, “We’re excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year, and the first of several flagship Apple Store locations starting in 2026, including an iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah coming later.”
“Our teams are looking forward to deepening our connections with customers and bringing the best of Apple to help people across this country explore their passions, build their businesses, and take their ideas to the next level,” He added.
In addition to its retail outlets, Apple continues to actively engage with and enhance educational programs in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural Apple Developer Academy in the region was established in Riyadh in 2021, through a collaborative effort between Tuwaiq Academy and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Since its inception, the all-female academy has effectively trained nearly 2,000 students, empowering them to submit applications to the App Store and contributing to the expansion of the nation’s burgeoning app economy.
This summer, Apple has initiated its inaugural coeducational Apple Foundation Program in Saudi Arabia, a one-month course designed to impart foundational knowledge in coding and application development, with a particular emphasis on gaming. The company plans to expand the program in 2025 to enhance the learning environment for students.
Apple continues to introduce new technologies to benefit Saudi citizens, including the launch of Apple Pay for seamless, secure transit payments in Riyadh, which became the first city in the Middle East to offer this feature. With these initiatives, Apple is playing a crucial role in transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital landscape and fostering economic development.
YouTube Music Introduces New Timestamp Sharing to Transform the Way You Share Audio
YouTube Music has launched a long-awaited feature that transforms how users share songs and podcasts with timestamp sharing. Following a similar update to YouTube’s mobile app earlier this year, the new feature is now available on YouTube Music for both Android and iOS, allowing users to share specific moments in a track by adding a timestamp to the link.
With the updated Share sheet, users can now toggle the “Start at x:xx” option, located in the top-right corner. This feature enables consumers to share a song or podcast commencing from a designated point, thereby ensuring that the recipient experiences precisely what the originator intended. The timestamp is effortlessly incorporated into the URL, denoted as “t=XX [seconds],” thereby facilitating immediate access to the specified instance within the audio.
Podcast fans will find this update especially handy for sharing certain portions of episodes, but it may also be used for songs or extended performance recordings to highlight a single section. The capability is important for maintaining the same look and feel of YouTube’s properties while also making it easy to distribute to YouTube Music, YouTube, and other Google services.
Timestamp sharing is now accessible to YouTube Music users on Android, iOS, and the web, thanks to an over-the-air upgrade. The function is one of the new features that have helped YouTube Music expand and become a stronger competitor to services like Spotify.
Aside from timestamp sharing, YouTube Songs recently introduced the “Speed Dial” feature, which displays user’s favorite songs on the homepage. The site has also debuted the 2024 Recap, a personalized end-of-year report based on users’ most-listened songs and artists, like Spotify’s Wrapped.
As YouTube Music continues to roll out these features, it is positioning itself as a strong player in the music streaming industry, offering users a more personalized and versatile experience.
WhatsApp’s Upcoming Feature Will Make Sure You Never Miss an Unread Message
WhatsApp is testing a feature designed to enhance user convenience by introducing reminders for unread messages and unseen Status updates. The feature, currently available in beta version 2.24.25.29 for Android, is aimed at helping users manage their conversations and notifications more effectively.
The newly introduced feature utilizes an internal algorithm to discern frequently contacted individuals by analysing the user’s interaction history. These interactions ascertain which messages and updates are designated as reminders.
Notably, this data is retained locally on users’ devices and is neither backed up nor stored on WhatsApp servers, thereby safeguarding user privacy. Upon reinstallation of the application, the algorithm initiates a comprehensive recalibration of the data from the ground up.
Initially, WhatsApp reminders were restricted to alerting users regarding Status updates from individuals with whom they frequently interact. However, the most recent update broadens the scope of these notifications to encompass outstanding chat messages, thereby guaranteeing that significant conversations are not inadvertently neglected.
WhatsApp has articulated that the feature is intended to deliver significant, non-intrusive notifications, thereby facilitating users’ ability to maintain connections with key contacts.
When Will This Feature Be Available?
Currently, the feature is in beta testing and accessible to a limited number of users enrolled in the Google Play Beta Program. Broader availability is expected in the coming months. To try the feature, users need to update their app through the Google Play Store and join WhatsApp’s beta program.
In addition to the reminder notifications, WhatsApp is introducing a novel sticker-sharing functionality. This update enables users to transmit entire sticker packets in a single action, thereby streamlining the process of sharing and downloading new stickers. The feature is accessible in WhatsApp version 24.24.83 for iOS and is being progressively rolled out to Android users as well.
By prioritizing user experience and privacy, WhatsApp consistently engages in innovation, thereby ensuring that its platform remains both accessible and effective for the management of communication.
Internet Slowdown Causes Pakistani Freelancers to Lose 70% of Work
The ongoing internet slowdown in Pakistan has hit the freelancing sector hard, with online workers reporting a dramatic 70% reduction in work opportunities. The nationwide connectivity issues are causing widespread disruptions in various industries, particularly affecting those who rely heavily on fast and stable internet access for their work.
Freelancers, who form a substantial part of Pakistan’s digital workforce, are facing significant setbacks due to slow internet speeds. Numerous individuals have failed to meet critical deadlines, resulting in the forfeiture of contracts and, in some instances, the termination of accounts. Moreover, digital marketing initiatives are being significantly obstructed, thereby further reducing the prospects for online employment within the nation.
Experts have articulated concerns that should the current internet issues persist, Pakistan may forfeit valuable freelance clientele to neighbouring nations such as India and Bangladesh, where internet services are notably more reliable.
Regarding the persistent connectivity issues, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has implemented measures to facilitate freelancers in registering their Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) using their phone numbers. Although the registration process is intended to mitigate certain restrictions imposed by the PTA, it remains uncertain whether this solution will significantly benefit freelancers who are grappling with inadequate internet connectivity.
However, Pakistan’s information technology sector is similarly suffering the adverse effects of these internet shutdowns. The information technology sector, which has been significantly affected by shutdowns, has incurred losses exceeding $1 million per hour, with nearly all companies experiencing disruptions in their services. The sector has requested that the government develop tax incentives and policies to foster development and investment, as the ongoing connectivity challenges persist in resulting in financial losses.
These issues continue to represent some of the enduring challenges faced by Pakistan, and their prolonged impact on the nation’s freelancing industry could be catastrophic if the government does not take prompt action to rectify the existing, unstable internet connectivity.
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