Bloomberg Two months after rolling out its digital assistant, Google is opening its doors to outside developers to help the company chase rivals, particularly Amazon.com Inc., in a critical technology race. The Alphabet Inc. unit recently launched a system for developers to build chatbots that work with Google Assistant, its voice-based virtual helper. The tools, called Conversation Actions, will …

  Mumbai / AFP India’s only surviving opera house has been restored to its colonial-era glory, reopening to the public more than two decades after it closed in disrepair. Once the place to be seen for Mumbai’s great and good it was forced to close in the 1990s after years of financial struggles. But a painstaking seven-year project has transformed …

  Cairo / AFP In an endless cacophony of car horns, Mostafa Ekram each day confronts the frenzy of Cairo’s traffic jams: pedestrians darting out into the street, swerving tuk-tuks and even donkey carts. At the wheel of his SUV, in the heart of Egypt’s bustling capital, he doesn’t bat an eyelid as he narrowly dodges a black tuk-tuk, a …

  ABU DHABI / WAM The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack, which targeted the Saint Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in the Abbasiya district in the Egyptian capital Cairo. The blast killed scores of innocent people. HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, emphasised that the leadership, government and people of …

  ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi General Services Company, (Musanada) is currently providing management services to 2,713 facilities and buildings across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to operating a 24/7 customer service call centre, the company said on Sunday. “Musanada’s facility-management division follows highest international and local standards to ensure provision of best services and operation of …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development mandated to develop the Emirate’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, and Al Tamimi & Company, the largest law firm in the Middle East which specialises in patents and innovations, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support entrepreneurial innovations and patents. The MoU …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Jumeirah Golf Estates announced the launch of an in-house leasing brokerage and resale services, enabling buyers and leasers to deal directly with the developer as it enhances its personalized service offering. Expanding its remit from developer and community manager to encompass this new function, Jumeirah Golf Estates will now offer leasing brokerage and resale services …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament represents a significant achievement by the UAE Federal National Council and reflects the country’s support for global dialogue, said HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and …

  Sharjah / Emirates Business ‘Sharjah Land’, Sharjah Department of eGovernment’s (DeG’s) first-ever augmented reality project in aiding the younger generations learn their civic responsibilities through digital interaction, has been making a stir since its launch at GITEX Technology Week in October. The game’s principal architect and DeG’s Director, Noor Ali Al Noman, was recently recognised and honoured by the …

  Dubai / WAM Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) reached financial closure for the 2,400MW Hassyan clean coal power project. The project uses the Independent Power Producer (IPP) procurement model on a Build Own Operate (BOO) basis and is supported by a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with DEWA. Last June, DEWA signed the PPA, Shareholders Agreement, SHA, and other …