Bloomberg EE, the mobile division of telecoms provider BT Group Plc, said it would offer free subscriptions to Apple’s streaming music product, Apple Music, to fend off rivals vying for customers in the U.K.’s crowded mobile marketplace. New EE post-paid contracts and renewals will come with six free months of Apple Music starting Sept. 1, Marc Allera, EE’s CEO, …

  San Francisco / AFP Google executive David Drummond left the Uber board of directors as competition revs up between the companies over self-driving cars. “I recently stepped down from Uber’s board given the overlap between the two companies,” Google chief legal officer Drummond said in a statement. Drummond noted that Google remains an “enthusiastic investor” in the on-demand ride-sharing …

  Relaxnews Google has announced the distribution of the definitive version of its new operating system Android Nougat. Initially, all of the handsets that participated in Google’s Android beta program will be updated with the final version of Android 7.0. Thereafter, Android Nougat will be rolled out to the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and …

  Bloomberg When Deona Duke woke up from a medically-induced coma to begin recovering from burns that covered almost a third of her body, one of her treatments was hurling snowballs at penguins. The 13-year-old was set on fire when a bonfire exploded on her and her friend. To prevent infection, burn victims need their bandages changed and dead skin …

  Gaza City / DPA From the roof of his house, Said Abu Nasser gazes over the concrete jungle of Gaza. There are no seating areas, no parasols and hardly any plants on the surrounding rooftops. But next to Abu Nasser, green and red pepper, and mint thrive in blue plastic tubs. Six stories below, the 53-year-old has also created …

  ABU DHABI / WAM Tadweer, the Centre of Waste Management, Abu Dhabi, signed new contracts worth over AED1.2 billion with the Sharjah Environment Company (Bee’ah), Averda Waste Management, Lavajet Abu Dhabi and Nael and Bin Harmal Hydro-export Establishment joint venture, to provide waste collection and transportation, street sweeping and cleaning services. Agreements were also signed with Eagle Environment Services …

  ABU DHABI / WAM Inspectors from the General Administration of Customs – Abu Dhabi recorded 7,224 customs seizures in the first half of 2016, compared to 6,435 in the first half of 2015, representing a 12.3% increase. Inspectors foiled attempts to smuggle 7,434 illegal substances into the UAE through various customs ports in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi during the …

  DUBAI/ WAM Preparations are afoot to hold the third Middle East Franchise Expo & Forum from October 25-26 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, Omar Al Hazza, Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa Franchise Association, said on Sunday. “The forum will showcase a wide range of 90 brands in the two-day event. We want to send …

Dubai / EMIRATES BUSINESS Dubai Land Department (DLD) has announced its support to Cityscape Global 20165, one of the largest international exhibitions specialising in real estate investment and development, which takes place on September 06-08 at Dubai World Trade Centre, were visitors can get to know the latest DLD’s services on its platform number (SAJ10) at the Sheikh Saeed Arena …

  Dubai / EMIRATES BUSINESS Despite sluggish macro-economic situation at the beginning of 2016, overall deal activity in H1 2016 was largely consistent with H1 2015. UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the top three markets in terms of deal activity in H1 2016. Announced deal value in the MENA region decreased from US$21.9b in H1 2015 to US$19.7b in …