Saudi Arabia to Host First of its Kind Motor Show for Electric, Hybrid Cars

This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia to Host First of its Kind Motor Show for Electric, Hybrid Cars

This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia will host the first of its kind e-Motor Show in the Middle East for electric and hybrid cars between February 25 and 28, with the participation of major car manufacturers and agents.

The e-Motor Show-Middle East will highlight recent developments in the electric and hybrid vehicles sector and clean technologies in the region, which are expected to become a natural part of the environmental transportation system, given the advanced technical capabilities and the promising opportunities.

Saudi Vision 2030 encourages such industries that help build a competitive economy along with sustainable development and infrastructure that promotes the realization of the Kingdom’s strategic short and long terms objectives.

The show also aims to enhance public awareness about electric and hybrid vehicles, which reflects the future of transportation in the Kingdom.

In addition, investing in such types of vehicles is an important trend, both in terms of manufacturing, various applications, import and export.

Chairman of the Cars Agent National Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers Faisal Abu Shusha said it was a “matter of pride” that such an important event is being organized inside the Kingdom.

He described it as a stepping-stone towards a prosperous future for modern transportation.

Abu Shusha stated it is important to prepare relevant policies and regulations pertaining to the electric vehicles (EVs) industry in both a clear and proactive manner.

He also called for activating the role of the private sector to provide new job opportunities and enhance the utilization of this technology.

Investing in the field of manufacturing electric vehicles in the Kingdom is something worth studying, especially as it falls in line with Vision 2030 and the national industry development program, he remarked.



Facebook Users Affected by Data Breach Eligible for Compensation, German Court Says

A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado
A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado
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Facebook Users Affected by Data Breach Eligible for Compensation, German Court Says

A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado
A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado

A German court said on Monday that Facebook users whose data was illegally obtained in 2018 and 2019 were eligible for compensation.

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that the loss of control over one's data online was grounds for damages without having to prove specific financial losses.

Thousands of Facebook users in Germany are demanding compensation from parent company Meta for insufficient protection of their data after unknown third parties were able to access user accounts by guessing phone numbers.

The claims, which stem from a data breach in 2021 of information gathered through the Facebook friend search feature, had been dismissed in principle by a lower court in Cologne and will now have to be re-examined.

The plaintiff had demanded damages of 1,000 euros ($1,056), but the BGH said that around 100 euros would be appropriate with no proof of financial loss.

According to the Karlsruhe-based court, the lower court must determine whether Facebook's terms of use were transparent and comprehensible, and whether users' consent to the use of their data was voluntary.

Meta previously refused to pay compensation on the grounds that those affected had not been able to prove any concrete damages.

A Meta spokesperson said the BGH's ruling was "inconsistent with the recent case law of the European Court of Justice, the highest court in Europe."

"Similar claims have already been dismissed 6,000 times by German courts, with a large number of judges ruling that no claims for liability or damages exist," the spokesperson said. "Facebook's systems were not hacked in this incident and there was no data breach."

Roughly six million people in Germany were affected by the leak.