Latest news with #DubaiEye
Campaign ME
24-07-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
AI in corporate affairs: Reputation at the speed of conflict
Driving into the office, I caught the Business Breakfast on Dubai Eye. The topic: a sophisticated SharePoint vulnerability exploited by China-linked state actors, targeting critical infrastructure in the US and Germany. The story hit close to home for several reasons. At KROHNE, like many industrial firms, we're heavily reliant on SharePoint — and in the Middle East, we still operate with physical servers rather than cloud. While this particular breach didn't trigger a media frenzy or reputational fallout, the technical expert being interviewed made a key point that stayed with me: AI was used to both accelerate the attack and drive the defence. This is exactly the position corporate affairs teams now find themselves in. Whether it's a cyber incident or a reputational one, AI is collapsing the timeline — and redefining the rules. Reputation and cybersecurity now share the same clock The SharePoint exploit (CVE-2025-49704 and 49706) wasn't about PR. It was about exfiltrating cryptographic keys, embedding backdoors, and quietly probing networks. But had there been a secondary reputational vector — say, falsified press statements or synthetic media targeting stakeholders — the consequences would have unfolded in real time. In today's environment, it's not just what happens — it's how fast your team knows, responds, and resets the narrative. That's the shift. Reputation used to be shaped over time. Now it's shaped in minutes — by algorithms, automated feeds, and sentiment at scale. AI can hurt you — and help you recover In the wrong hands, AI can generate fake stakeholder letters, deepfake video statements, or bots impersonating customers and employees. None of this is hypothetical anymore. But AI can also flag anomalies faster than any analyst, monitor global sentiment in real time, and triage which reputational risks need human escalation. We're entering an era where reputation management is no longer about being reactive. It's about being ready. Corporate affairs needs tools that talk to each other Reputation protection is now a team sport — and your comms, legal, and IT functions need shared systems that work at machine speed. You can't respond to an AI-generated crisis with manual workflows or defend your CEO's credibility with a three-day press release process. And you can't monitor reputation in real time if your data sits in silos. This isn't about new platforms. It's about interoperability, trust, and readiness. Three moves to future-proof your reputation function Scenario-train for AI-infused narrative risks Crisis simulations often focus on operational impact — downtime, customer data, supply chain disruption. Now is the time to build in parallel simulations around reputational attack vectors: What if a deepfake CEO video surfaces at 5pm on a Friday? What if AI-generated emails claim your company is withdrawing from a market or cutting staff? Your legal and communications teams need to be rehearsed, resourced, and empowered to act on gut and data — not wait for permission. Fuse legal, communications, and digital intelligence Narrative risk doesn't sit neatly in one department. AI-generated misinformation might start as a social media post, but it quickly becomes a compliance issue, a market signal, and a legal minefield. Companies that respond effectively will be those that build cross-functional fluency and fast-track decisions between legal, corporate affairs, and digital monitoring teams. Invest in an AI-powered reputation audit now — before it's reactive Map how your organisation uses AI in customer-facing roles, where your reputational exposure lies across platforms and geographies, and which tools can give you early warning when sentiment shifts. Think of it as a reputational telemetry system: always-on, integrated, and geared for action. The SharePoint breach didn't cause reputational damage, at least as far as we can se — but it could have. The difference wasn't just security posture. It was speed, readiness, and system-level awareness. In reputational terms, AI is no longer the future — it's the terrain. The companies that come through the next wave of shocks intact won't be the ones with the most polished messaging. They'll be the ones who saw the signal first, acted fast, and had the internal fluency to respond with clarity, not chaos. The question isn't whether you'll face a machine-speed narrative threat. It's whether you'll be ready to respond at the same pace — or faster. By Jonathan Ashton, Head of Marketing and Communications, KROHNE Middle East and Africa
The National
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
For celebrities, silence on Gaza 'genocide' is no longer an option
William Mullally is Arts & Culture Editor at The National. An award-winning culture writer, he's lived in the UAE since 2009 and chronicled the rise of the region's diverse creative scenes. He's served as Dubai Eye 103.8's film critic since 2013, and has contributed to Arab News, ET Bil Arabi, The Insider Arabia, GQ Middle East, Esquire Middle East, Al Arabiya, Savoir Flair and Harper's Bazaar Arabia. His long-running celebrity interview series has achieved more than 50 million views across his YouTube and TikTok channels.
The National
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
How puzzle video games can improve brain health and focus
There's a reason Sherlock Holmes and his escapades haven't gone out of style since he made his debut in A Study in Scarlet back in 1887. That's the enduring popularity of a good puzzle. And who doesn't love to pit their wits and flex their powers of deduction against a powerful video game? Puzzles are having a major moment. This includes books, such as the popular Murdle series of mysteries; escape rooms where groups must solve the clues together to unlock the door; and even Wordle, which has maintained its pandemic-era popularity. Released this year, video game Blue Prince has proved wildly popular thanks to its mix of storytelling and puzzle-solving. Gamers play as Simon P Jones, a young man who is set to inherit the Mt Holly Estate from his grandfather, Herbert S Sinclair, but only if he can find the manor's hidden 46th room. Players need to build the interior of the estate to create a maze-like layout that leads to the hidden room. 'I'm at that age where a wild Friday night involves staying in and playing video games with my better half,' says Nathan Irvine, radio and podcast producer at Dubai Eye. ' Blue Prince is our current favourite. We play it together – one uses the controller to wander around the mansion, and the other takes notes on clues. Before Blue Prince, our evening's entertainment revolved around other multiplayer puzzle games, such as Tetris Effect, PixelJunk Monsters 2 and Lumines Remastered.' Are puzzle games good for the brain? While parents often lament the amount of time their children spend on their computers, not all video games are created equal. Puzzle-focused games can have an array of benefits. 'I've seen first-hand the cognitive and behavioural benefits of puzzle and logic games,' says Gayatri Govind Gajjam a clinical psychologist at Aster DYU Child Development Centre. 'These games offer far more than entertainment, they can be powerful tools for cognitive development and mental well-being. Puzzle and logic games are more than just a form of entertainment; they provide meaningful cognitive stimulation, and enhance critical thinking, working memory and mental flexibility.' Mental stimulation is a key component when choosing video games that aid growth. Structured challenges such as puzzle and clue-solving strengthen executive functioning and encourage sustained focus. Key brain health benefits can include improved problem-solving skills, enhanced working memory, improved cognitive flexibility and, interestingly for those with ADHD or other inattention disorders, increased attention and concentration. 'These games activate multiple regions of the brain,' says Gajjam. 'The prefrontal cortex is heavily engaged as players plan, strategise and solve problems. The hippocampus supports memory formation and recall, while the parietal lobes assist with spatial awareness and logical reasoning. Engaging these areas regularly promotes interconnectivity between brain regions, which enhances overall cognitive efficiency.' Benefits for young and old Video games are often considered the preserve of the young, but puzzle games are cross-generational, with benefits for younger and older brains alike. 'One of the most fascinating aspects of logic and puzzle gameplay is that their impact is age-specific, yet universally beneficial,' says Yasir Shafi, a homeopathy practitioner at Wellth. 'While the mechanisms of benefit may differ by age, the underlying principle remains the same: consistent, challenging mental activity is one of the most effective ways to support brain health across the lifespan.' Puzzle video games such as Blue Prince change on a daily basis, engaging you to constantly learn and take notes as you proceed, while the game Chants of Sennaar involves decoding fictional languages and writing to advance, enhancing critical thinking and improved cognitive processing speed. 'There have always been plenty of puzzle and logic games around,' says Irvine. ' Tetris is a great example that has stood the test of time. Originally released in 1984, its many iterations – but simple formula – make it one of the top-selling games of all time.' Four puzzle video games to download now The Case of the Golden Idol Available on: Nintendo Switch, MacOS, Xbox, Mobile, PlayStation and PC If murder puzzles are your thing, step into The Case of the Golden Idol in which you must find the murderer at each stage of the game. With clues and evidence all around, this is the ideal game to play with friends and family as you work to eliminate suspects and find connections between the deceased. Return of the Obra Dinn Available on: PlayStation, PC, MacOS, Xbox and Nintendo Switch Mystery fans will be in their element with this old-school game in which the merchant vessel Obra Dinn which disappeared in 1803 suddenly reappears off the coast of England five years later. Surprise, surprise, everyone on board is dead and it's up to you to discover how each person died using a pocket watch that allows you to see their final moments. Outer Wilds Available on: Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and PC In Outer Wilds you'll find yourself stuck in a 22-minute time loop in a dying solar system trying to discover what is happening and how you can save everyone. Working out why the system is degenerating is the key, and you must visit nearby planets to try to escape the loop, solving mysteries along the way. Gorogoa Available on: Mobile, PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch Simpler than many puzzle games on the market, Gorogoa 's gentle sketch-style scenes hold hidden meanings. It's reminiscent of hand-held sliding puzzles in which you move square tiles to complete the image. In this slow-paced game the screen is divided into four panels, each featuring a scene you can interact with and deconstruct to move the story along.
TimesLIVE
21-04-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Saudi Arabia not ruling out a bid for 2035 Rugby World Cup
Saudi Arabia, hosts of the 2034 Soccer World Cup, could make a bid for the 2035 Rugby World Cup despite barely playing the game. Sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal was not ruling it out when he met reporters on the sidelines of Sunday's floodlit Formula One grand prix in Jeddah. 'We're interested in rugby, we're interested in developing the sport locally, so we created a federation to see what we can do to develop the sport,' he said. 'I don't think we're on the level of hosting yet but 2035 is in 10 years so maybe it grows in that direction and we see a big interest in that, then why not?' The Times newspaper reported last month Saudi Arabia could join with Qatar, who hosted the 2022 Soccer World Cup, and the United Arab Emirates in a joint bid for 2035 or 2039. It quoted Asia Rugby president Qais Al Dhalai, an Emirati, as saying it could happen. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are officially teaming up to launch a joint bid to host the 2035 or 2039 Rugby World Cup - a first for the region and potentially, a very big moment for the global game. Georgia Tolley gets the take of Benjamin Van Rooyen, CEO of Asia Rugby. - Dubai Eye 103.8 'A multi-host could be a successful story and a new model for rugby. UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Why not? The stadiums are ready there. It will be the most successful event in the history of rugby,' he said. The UAE are ranked 49th in the world, with Qatar 87th and Saudi Arabia not in the top 113. Australia hosts the next men's tournament in 2027 with the US in 2031. Al-Faisal said Saudi Arabia, which has also been awarded the 2029 Asian Winter Games, has 97 sports federations and could not host everything. 'But why do we have 97 federations? Because we want to promote sports, even the smallest sports that maybe a small number of people participate in, in Saudi or there isn't that big of an interest, so at least someone can play that sport in the kingdom.' The country has spent heavily on sport but critics accuse it of 'sportswashing' its human rights record. The country denies rights abuses and says it protects national security through its laws. Al-Faisal said boxing was showing rapid growth, with more and more gyms opening as the country hosted world title fights, and golf was the same. 'We had a very small percentage of youth playing in golf but now after LIV Golf, and after the tournaments that we've hosted in the kingdom, we see a big number of participation,' he said. Cricket was another sport with potential due to the large number of foreign workers from elsewhere in Asia. 'I think in the cricket league we have around 35,000 players already, 90% of them are not Saudi, but we want to accommodate that because they live here, we want to provide for them,' said the prince. 'So does it mean we're going to host a big cricket tournament or match in the future? Maybe. But we'll see how it goes towards that, and if it makes sense to host these events.'
Dubai Eye
18-03-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Airports hand out 60,000 Iftar boxes
Coming Up on Dubai Eye The Score 7:00pm - 9:00pm Hosted by Chris McHardy, The Score is your comprehensive guide to the world of sport. 9:00pm - 11:00pm Enjoy your favourite music back to back commercial free, tune in to the Music Mix everyday from 1 until 2 for the music you love and the news updates you need BUSINESS BREAKFAST LATEST UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to the USA UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to the US to boost economic and technology ties including AI. New iPhone Launch - Too Soon For Apple? Apple Inc. shares fell Monday after a closely followed analyst warned that demand for the firm's new iPhone 16 Pro model has been lower than expected. Is this a sign that the AI software just isn't ready? Working From Home or Hardly Working? Does working from home kill productivity or can it benefit staff by giving them more flexibility and a better work/life balance? On Dubai Eye Is There Sufficient House Supply In UAE Dubai's current population is more than double compared to almost twenty years ago, which now stands at 3.7 million. Lots of families are also moving to the UAE now. So what does it mean for the property market? Noon's First Female Delivery Driver Glory Ehirim Nkiruka is Noon's first ever female delivery driver. In her first ever interview, she explained why she loves her job, despite the heat!
