BEIRUT, Lebanon — The ferocious ground assault and aerial bombardment in eastern Aleppo has forced some 16,000 people to flee for their lives in the last few days, according to Stephen O’Brien, the United Nations under secretary general for humanitarian affairs. “The parties to the conflict have shown time and again they are willing to take any action to secure military advantage even if it means killing, […]
A new $571 million 62km highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai has been inaugurated, it was announced on Tuesday. Named the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road, the highway is one of the biggest infrastructure projects implemented under Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan, news agency WAM reported. Falah Al Ahbabi, Urban Planning Council director-general said: “The road represents a model for all future roads […]
5836 25 by Shannon K. O’Neil November 11, 2016 A man displays a new 2000 Indian rupee banknote after withdrawing from a bank (Reuters/Mukesh Gupta). France’s Anticorruption ReformsAfter years of criticism for failing to prosecute foreign bribery, France adopted a new anticorruption law that will force companies doing business on its soil to take more aggressive preventative measures, and also gives the government stronger tools to fight […]
Migrant workers categorize crayons at a toy factory in Dongguan, Guangdong province March 9, 2010. South China’s export stronghold Guangdong is experiencing labour shortages that could result in higher wages, but they are not as severe as reported by the media, provincial Communist Party boss Wang Yang said (Reuters/Joe Tan). Global trade and the supply chains that support it are undergoing a period of profound change. Supply […]
People have a general idea of how much a rocket-propelled grenade costs. What about a cyber weapon? (Baz Ratner/Reuters), Max Smeets is a D.Phil candidate and research affiliate of the Cyber Studies Programme at the University of Oxford. His work analyzes the proliferation of cyber weapons. Can a non-state actor take down critical infrastructure with a cyberattack? If it is not possible today, will it be possible […]
The AI can add animations to static images, although the researchers acknowledge that it rarely generates the “correct” future. Image: MIT Researchers have developed a deep-learning system that can do the very human task of interpreting what’s happening in a photo and guessing what’s likely to happen next. Better yet, the system, developed by machine-learning researchers at MIT, can express its idea of a plausible future by […]
In late 2000, rumors about about a new personal transportation device that could change the way people got around started making the rounds. Steve Jobs initially said it could be “as big as the PC,” while John Doerr speculated that it would be more important than the Internet. So when the Segway was actually introduced in December 2001, anticipation was very high. But while it […]
The reaction to the election of Donald Trump is as much a function of social media and its negative effects on the populace as anything the candidates did or said. People like to say social networks, especially Facebook, are a great way to maintain relations with old high school chums and relatives you ditched when you were 20. In reality, if you wanted to stay […]
The coolest vehicle I saw at AutoMobilityLA (aka, the LA Auto Show) this week wasn’t even real, at least initially. To debut its new I-PACE all-electric crossover, Jaguar herded media into a Hollywood studio with a dozen or so tables in a large room, each topped with HTC Vive VR headsets, Dell Precision workstations, stereo headphones, and a joystick controller. Keep in mind that automotive […]
Although women comprise a small fraction of tech professionals—just one in four, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology—several nonprofits and startups are working to jumpstart women’s participation in computer science. In a previous column, I considered Grace Hopper Academy, a New York City coding bootcamp designed explicitly for women. GHA’s sister school, Fullstack Academy, takes that program online with a Remote […]
Two weeks before the election, I traveled to Maine for a conference and drove through Massachusetts and New Hampshire on my way. In Silicon Valley, which was mostly Clinton country, I’d seen very few signs or bumper stickers promoting any candidates. But as I drove through the northeast, plenty of Trump signs were displayed on people’s lawns, fences, and car bumpers. I did see a […]
Many Android music apps tout their ability to introduce listeners to new tunes by using secret algorithms or community input, but none of them can do what WhoSampled does. The free WhoSampled Android app, based on the popular website of the same name, helps you connect the musical present to the past by highlighting the song snippets that were used to build other songs. If you fancy […]
Okta Identity Management, an excellent identity management service that begins at $2 per user per month, is one of the big names in the Identity-Management-as-a-Service (IDaaS) space, even earning top marks in a 2016 Gartner Magic Quadrant report. While kudos from an industry analyst firm can be an indicator of a strong product, most potential users are more concerned with features and pricing, areas in which Okta […]
Eventually, you’re going to need extra storage—especially as modern technology enables higher-quality videos, photos, and other media. The SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD ($499.99 for 960GB) is a versatile, higher-capacity solid-state drive (SSD) that can take its fair share of knocks. It’s not going to turn heads in terms of style, but if you’re looking for speedy transfers, the Extreme 900 should definitely be on your short […]
While some users are looking for advanced security features or ruggedized drives to take into the field, many are simply looking for a reliable and fast place to store their data for travel. The Oyen Digital MiniPro 3.1 USB-C Portable Solid-State Drive ($299 for 1TB) does exactly that with its sleek design and fast data transfer speeds. On top of that, it’s one of the most affordable […]
Creating diagrams, such as organizational charts and network infrastructure maps, used to require either a designer or a whole lot of patience. Not anymore. Diagramming app SmartDraw intuits the shapes and objects you’re going to put into a diagram based on the template you choose. It gives you buttons that quickly add the new elements, align them, and make them look professional. The program is dead simple […]
BambooHR is human resources software that should start at around $7 per employee per month, but this figure isn’t available on the company’s website. Instead of clicking on an easy-to-read pricing page, you’ll need to fill in a web form or call BambooHR for a “custom quote.” That’s worth it, however, because if you take advantage of the free evaluation period, you’ll find BambooHR to be a […]
While there is no sign of our collective obsession with social media fading any time soon, there is also a growing determination by some to cut all ties and go on a technology detox. It sometimes feels as if new platforms for posting, sharing and pontificating are appearing by the day. With so many outlets for people to share their opinions and views of the world, and […]
Cyber Monday 2016 is here! As consumers gear up to snag tech devices at discounted prices, e-retailer Amazon has plenty of limited period offers to lure holiday shoppers! Barely have people recouped from the Black Friday specials and Amazon is enticing shoppers with not-to-be-missed offers on a gamut of devices. Tech Times has curated a list of some of the best available deals from Amazon as part […]
Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for November 29, 2016, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. newslide Abu Dhabi Art exhibition Visit The Galleria on Al Maryah Island and see an exhibition by photographer Mark Luscombe-Whyte, who specialises in Arab architecture, including images of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Enjoy a […]
The Sennheiser GSX 1000 is not only pitched as a stylish DAC + amp combo that aims to provide better sound quality than your on-board audio. But also as a revolutionary virtual surround sound device that uses Sennheiser’s new Binaural Rendering Engine to simulate a “groundbreaking” 7.1 audio experience. It’s “surround sound reborn” claims Sennheiser, and while it may not be as sublime as its marketing hyperbole […]
Given its enormity, India offers an array of local specialities. From clothing and gemstones to handicrafts and fabrics, every region has its own retail identity. One of the benefits of visiting Delhi, its capital city, is that it eloquently showcases a cross section of the country’s regional specialities, and over the past decade, the ancient city has grown rapidly beyond the exquisite and conventional to include whimsical […]
In these volatile times, gold is more important than ever. Bonner & Partners’ Bill Bonner explains in this two-part series, the importance of ‘real money’ and why you need it now… Many years ago, before the invention of modern money or capitalism, people still had wealth – although limited. And they still had ways of keeping track of it. The principle of “fair trade” seems to be […]
A selection of films from around the world are to be showcased next week at the 13th annual Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), its organisers have announced. Held at the Madinat Theatre at Dubai’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah, the festival runs from December 7-14 and includes numerous cinema screenings and red carpet gala events. On December 8, festival goers will experience the world premiere of ‘Befikre’, a Hindi […]
