عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Technology

‘SHIFT’ Medical Innovation Center Inaugurated in Riyadh 

The center was established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Siemens Healthineers. (SPA)
The center was established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Siemens Healthineers. (SPA)
TT
TT

‘SHIFT’ Medical Innovation Center Inaugurated in Riyadh 

The center was established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Siemens Healthineers. (SPA)
The center was established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Siemens Healthineers. (SPA)

Saudi Deputy Minister of Health Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih and Siemens Healthineers Board Member Elisabeth Staudinger inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the “SHIFT” innovation center, one of the regional centers aimed at enhancing the capacity to adapt innovations to address local health challenges and market needs in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

The center was established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Siemens Healthineers and was one of the first agreements reached at the 8th Global Health Forum.

The center aims to support innovation and scientific research, enable strategic partnerships among healthcare entities, research institutions, startups, and innovators, and build capacities.

Its goal is to transfer knowledge and integrate global expertise with local insights, fostering scalable, innovative solutions to boost healthcare and solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading innovation hub in the Middle East and Africa.

The center boasts the Siemens Healthineers’ Digi X-Lab, which is designed to enable researchers and physicians to leverage data and artificial intelligence technologies, transforming medical data into scientific insights that accelerate clinical research and support innovation.

Most Viewed

 
 
Technology

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Meta over Use of AI in WhatsApp

FILE - Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE - Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
TT
TT

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Meta over Use of AI in WhatsApp

FILE - Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE - Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Brussels has opened a new antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over its rollout of artificial intelligence features in WhatsApp, the European Commission said on Thursday, reflecting rising scrutiny of Big Tech's use of generative AI.

The move, reported earlier by Reuters and the Financial Times, marks the latest action by European regulators against large technology firms as the bloc seeks to balance support for the sector with efforts to curb its expanding influence.

The European Commission opened the investigation into "Meta's new policy regarding AI providers' access to WhatsApp" after the California-based company integrated its Meta AI system into the messaging service earlier this year.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said that "the claims are baseless", adding that the emergence of chatbots on its platforms "puts a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support".

"Even still, the AI space is highly competitive and people have access to the services of their choice in any number of ways, including app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems."

Meta AI, a chatbot and virtual assistant, has been built into WhatsApp's interface since March 2025 across European markets.

Italy's antitrust watchdog opened a parallel investigation in July into allegations that Meta leveraged its market power by integrating an AI tool into WhatsApp. The probe was expanded in November to examine whether Meta further abused its dominance by blocking rival AI chatbots from the messaging platform.

The FT, citing officials, said that the EU probe will be conducted under traditional antitrust rules rather than the EU's Digital Markets Act, the bloc's landmark legislation currently used to scrutinize Amazon and Microsoft's cloud services for potential curbs.

Technology

Nintendo Launches Long-awaited 'Metroid Prime 4' Sci-fi Blaster

The 'Metroid' series's unique look has garnered many fans since it began in 1986. Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
The 'Metroid' series's unique look has garnered many fans since it began in 1986. Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
TT
TT

Nintendo Launches Long-awaited 'Metroid Prime 4' Sci-fi Blaster

The 'Metroid' series's unique look has garnered many fans since it began in 1986. Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
The 'Metroid' series's unique look has garnered many fans since it began in 1986. Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File

Fans of Nintendo's "Metroid" science-fiction saga have reason to celebrate Thursday as the latest instalment in the series is released after an eight-year wait and a bumpy road through development.

Drawing loose inspiration from the "Alien" movies since its first title in 1986, the game series has followed the adventures of space bounty hunter Samus Aran in her battle with the extraterrestrial Metroid, said AFP.

Over 15 instalments, the saga evolved from 2D platforming and exploration into a first-person action-adventure format from 2002, when the first "Metroid Prime" appeared on the Gamecube console.

Now "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond" will take players on Switch 1 or 2 to a distant planet they can explore on foot or by motorbike in Samus's distinctive armored suit.

Equipped with an arm-mounted cannon and a suite of psychic powers to overcome different challenges, players must blaze a trail through jungles or deserts as they battle enemies.

In a novelty for this instalment, players can use the Switch 2's detachable controller handset like a computer mouse to look around the environment -- making the game more comfortable for people used to gaming on a PC setup.

Critics have largely welcomed the new game, with a score of 81 out of 100 based on 71 reviews aggregated by the Metacritic website.

That's a relief for Nintendo after its painful and rare decision to restart development from scratch in 2019 -- 18 months after the title's initial unveiling.

The Japanese giant's first take had "not reached the standards we seek", Nintendo development lead Shinya Takahashi said at the time in a YouTube video.

Nintendo instead handed the job to its US-based development house Retro Studios, which created the first three "Metroid Prime" titles.

The years flying under the radar for "Prime 4" meant it joined longed-for future titles like "Half-Life 3" from Valve or "Beyond Good and Evil 2" from Ubisoft among game fans' white whales.

Technology

Saudi Investment Ministry Unveils High-quality Cybersecurity Investments at Black Hat MEA 2025 

The ministry revealed a series of new investments by leading international and local companies in the field of cybersecurity. (SPA)
The ministry revealed a series of new investments by leading international and local companies in the field of cybersecurity. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Investment Ministry Unveils High-quality Cybersecurity Investments at Black Hat MEA 2025 

The ministry revealed a series of new investments by leading international and local companies in the field of cybersecurity. (SPA)
The ministry revealed a series of new investments by leading international and local companies in the field of cybersecurity. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Investment, the strategic sponsor and investment partner of the fourth edition of Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025, announced a package of high-quality investments in the cybersecurity sector, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The announcement came during the event, organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham from December 2 to 4, with the participation of leading global companies and cybersecurity innovators, as well as senior officials and experts from the public and private sectors.

During its participation, the ministry revealed a series of new investments by leading international and local companies in the field of cybersecurity, including the opening of regional headquarters, the establishment of operational branches, the signing of exclusive partnerships, and expansion into external markets.

The total value of these investments exceeded SAR500 million, underscoring the attractiveness of the Kingdom’s investment environment and the strength of its technological and cybersecurity ecosystem.

The ministry’s participation in this international event comes as an extension of its efforts to attract high-quality investments, launch enabling initiatives, and support the expansion of Saudi investments abroad, in addition to boosting the growth of the cybersecurity sector as one of the promising technology sectors, which aligns with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 to advance the digital economy and enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness and technological readiness.