ABU DHABI // The UAE’s leading position in IT advancement will enable the Arabian Gulf to thrive in the digital age, says Google’s regional head of government relations and public policy.
Susan Pointer said the country’s lead in taking up mobile technology would set it up for new opportunities, many of which would inspire tomorrow’s innovators and businesses.
“It has advanced ICT infrastructure and high internet and mobile penetration,” said Ms Pointer in a lecture at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi.
“It has investment capital, a multicultural and multilingual environment, innovation combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, as well as a rich cultural heritage and a modern arts and innovation base to share with the world.”
Ms Pointer, whose responsibility covers the Middle East, Asia, Russia and Africa, said the UAE Government had an ambitious vision to succeed in digital and knowledge economy.
“Around the world, governments are putting technology at the centre of their thinking, and I know that the UAE is no exception,” she said.
“I strongly believe that our generations have been presented with a historically unprecedented opportunity, tools and capacity to make a positive difference in the world.
“We’re holding in our hands that unique opportunity, one we should certainly not take for granted but we certainly should cherish, nurture and grasp. In this 2015 year of innovation, let us celebrate that possibility and harness that potential.” Ms Pointer’s lecture was entitled New Frontiers in Government, Innovation, Education and the Internet.
She also told of Google’s plans to expand in the country.
“We are looking at how to bring our expertise in terms of inspiring young people to take advantage of Stem [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] education, and give them a good basis to then explore whatever is their passion,” she said.
“It removes a fear of these subjects. A lot of the investment is really helping to show what is possible, to remove fear and inspire young people to experiment.”
She mentioned the innovation centre set up in Ras Al Khaimah, which provides robotics and introductory computer science classes. With 47,000 students and 2,500 teachers, the hub also provides teachers with lessons on how to integrate technology in the classroom.
“The UAE leadership has set out a very clear vision aiming to spark young people’s curiosity about science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” she said. “The Government has big plans to equip young people with 21st-century skills and develop this country’s knowledge economy, which is a wonderful base for securing all of these economic, societal and cultural benefits.”
Digital literacy is another area in which Google is expanding.
“We’re very conscious that the internet technologies bring about so many opportunities,” said Ms Pointer. “But we need to equip people, both young and old, to feel comfortable using online tools and have the availability of things like workshops to show them how to stay safe online, be respectful and flag issues of concern.”
She hoped such an initiative would be launched very soon.
“It is not just a knowledge of technology that is important, it is also a knowledge of how we use technology responsibly and equip young people with those skills,” she said. “That’s not something that will come just from Google but we need to partner with educational establishments, government authorities and others to take that work forward. We’re looking right now to accelerate this introduction in this region, so I hope to kick that off very soon.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Traces%20of%20Enayat
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
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Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
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Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
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Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
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Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
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