Emirates Press

HELSINKI: Amna Mahmoud Fikri, Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of Finland, attended the inauguration ceremony of Alexander Stubb as President of Finland, in the capital Helsinki.

Fikri conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to President Stubb, as well as their wishes for further growth and prosperity for the government and people of Finland.

Fikri underscored the relations between the two countries and affirmed the UAE leadership’s steadfast commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance collaboration across various fields of mutual interest.

For his part, President Stubb expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation for the UAE’s participation in the inauguration ceremony, and conveyed his greetings to Presiden
t His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, as well as his wishes for further growth and prosperity for the government and people of the UAE.

President Stubb emphasised the Republic of Finland’s keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with the UAE and enhance them across various sectors, aiming to further develop ties between the two countries and their peoples.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger expressed strong backing of Jordan’s cybersecurity skills enhancement program.

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra) Tuesday, Neuberger underscored the significance of her visit to Jordan, which falls within the framework of the Jordan-US Cyber and Digital Dialogue. The primary focus of discussions included deepening collaboration in the field of cybersecurity.

Highlighting the longstanding strategic partnership between Jordan and the US spanning 75 years, Neuberger emphasized the pivotal role of cybersecurity as an essential pillar of this relationship, particularly in the face of potential electronic threats to government systems and infrastructure.

Neuberger further emphasized the importance of information sharing on threats and exploring avenues for cooperation to bolster cybersecurity measures between the two nations.

Additionally, theoretical training will be proposed for relevant authorities to
ensure the safety of critical infrastructure against cyberattacks.

Moreover, Neuberger unveiled plans to introduce several compelling initiatives aimed at nurturing the cybersecurity skills of Jordanian youth and investing in their potential.

Responding to inquiries about the United States’ contributions in this field, Neuberger affirmed US commitment to providing expertise in securing government and military systems from attacks, with a focus on preventing data breaches and system disruptions.

Additionally, the United States aims to support skills development and offer university courses in cybersecurity.

Neuberger emphasized the vital role of AI in fortifying cybersecurity, highlighting its capabilities in identifying vulnerabilities in code that malicious actors can exploit. By harnessing AI for defense purposes, the objective is to stay ahead of potential attacks.

Furthermore, she announced plans to provide scholarships in cybersecurity, computer science, cryptography, and related fields to Jordanian
s.

Recognizing Jordan’s advancements in software and technology, Neuberger commended the kingdom for its talented youth who possess multilingual abilities.

Regarding efforts to enhance international cooperation in cybersecurity, Neuberger emphasized the need for global partnerships, as cyber threats transcend national borders.

She highlighted Jordan’s participation in a significant initiative established by the White House two years ago, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the realm of cybersecurity.

This initiative encompasses approximately 56 countries within Interpol, with active participation from several Middle Eastern nations.

Its primary objectives are to provide training and support in areas such as tracking cryptocurrencies that may be exploited for financing cyber attackers.

Additionally, the initiative facilitates mutual assistance among participating countries, allowing any nation facing an attack to request aid from others. The collaborative effort fosters knowledge sharing between attackers
and defenders, enabling advancements in defensive strategies and techniques.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI: Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH) has announced the launch of a series of initiatives to strengthen its position as a leading global centre of excellence in the humanities.

The university recently published 46 academic papers, highlighting its standing at the forefront of humanities research. The productive output also underscores the depth of the university’s research capabilities, with a prolific team supporting its research plans and ambitions.

To further the depth and capabilities of its research and academic programmes, MBZUH has also created three specialised databases that researchers worldwide can access to ensure they have a wealth of knowledge and information they can draw on to produce high-quality research.

Moreover, the university has provided qualified faculty with eight research grants to be utilised in studies and training programmes that will further advance the university’s research standard, focusing on the humanities.

More specifically, the university’s tra
ining programmes will focus on elevating the research staff’s research skills to the highest standards, on par with the best in the world. The programmes will include training undergraduate and graduate students on the basics of academic research, writing research theses, and honing their skills in research documentation through periodic workshops by specialists.

In addition, the university will be launching a “Science Buds” project, which aims to enhance the research capabilities of students and researchers by working alongside designated professors who will be their academic mentors to support their growth in research, both theoretically and practically.

The training programmes will also include the “An Hour with the Editor” session to provide scientific and academic support to every student and researcher face-to-face with an expert specialised in the research they will be undertaking.

MBZUH will also send students to attend international conferences and participate in solid research papers. The univers
ity will also implement exchange programmes, providing students ample opportunities to visit universities, research centres, and cultural centres in various countries through agreements signed by the university with prestigious partner institutions abroad.

The University published three books on research that were presented during the conferences organised by the university previously. These include the Second International Conference on Philosophy the Conference on Islamic Studies and the Renewal of Religious Discourse.

Another initiative the university recently completed was the second edition of the Sheikh Zayed Intelligence Award. This recognition programme honours excellence in academic research in the humanities and aims to encourage academic researchers to write peer-reviewed research.

In addition, the university also introduced the “Promising Researchers” award, one of the pillars of the ongoing research and academic development programme for students, by encouraging them to engage in academic rese
arch.

Dr. Maria Al-Hattali, Director of the Research Support Department, said that the training programmes’ outcomes aim to enhance the university’s research programmes, enable the students to choose their research topic creatively and help them chart the course toward completing their research projects.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: The SMS portal played a crucial role in facilitating communication with citizens last year, delivering an impressive total of 87,125,297 messages, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship said on Tuesday.

Recognized as the most widely utilized communication channel across various segments of Jordanian society, the SMS portal offers a free and easily accessible means of communication. It eliminates the requirement for specialized smartphones or an internet connection, ensuring exclusivity for all.

With services provided by the SMS gateway, around 100 government institutions and departments are catered to.

The messages transmitted through this platform encompass a range of content, including awareness messages, promotional announcements, and updates on transaction statuses, issued by government entities to citizens.

Additionally, citizens can utilize the portal to send specific inquiries to the number 94444, and they will receive relevant information in response.

Source: Jordan News Age
ncy

ABU DHABI: The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has said that a contribution account salary is the salary by which an employer shares and that of the insured Emiratis share of contributions are due from the beginning of each month. The longer a person contributes, the better the pension or end-of-service benefits are.

As part of the ‘Know Your Law’ awareness campaign, the authority said that the contribution amount as per Federal Law No.57 of 2023 regarding pension and social security is 26 percent, out of which insured Emiratis who have joined the workforce starting 31st October 2023 bear 11 percent, while the employer pays 15 percent; these contributions are paid according to the insured’s contribution account salary.

Additionally, the government bears a 2.5 percent share on behalf of private sector employees whose contribution account salaries are less than AED20,000 as a form of support for Emiratis working in the private sector.

The provisions for Federal Law No.7 of 1999 for pens
ion and social security and its amendments apply to Emiratis employed before 31st October 2023 and entail a total of 20 percent in contributions, out of which the insured bears five percent, whereas the government and private sector bear 15 percent. The UAE government pays 2.5 percent of the percentage owed by the private sector entity as a form of support, similar to the 2023 federal law.

The contribution account salary, which is subject to deduction for Emirati employees working in the government sector, includes the insured’s basic salary, cost of living allowance, social allowance for children and the insured, and housing allowance, provided that the contribution account salary of the insured does not exceed AED100,000.

The law specifies the contribution account salary for private sector employees at a payment determined by their employment contract so that the contribution account salary is not less than AED3,000 and not more than AED70,000.

The contribution account salary for insured individuals empl
oyed in regional, international, or foreign missions operating in the UAE is based on the basic salary specified in the employment contract, in addition to benefits, bonuses, or allowances granted in exchange for his/her work.

The Decree indicated that GPSSA’s Board of Directors may determine the elements included in calculating the contribution account salary in cases whereby the employer applies a schedule for their employees’ salaries, contrary to what is stipulated in the provisions for calculating the contribution account salary.

According to the current Law No. 9 of 1999, the contribution account salary is AED300,000 in the government sector and AED50,000 in the private sector. An insured Emirati working in any regional, international or foreign missions operating in the UAE is not included in Law No. 9 of 1999, but they are included in the new Federal Decree Law No. 57 of 2023, with a maximum ceiling set for their contribution account salary at the same level as that of the private sector.

Source:
Emirates News Agency

Amman: Jordan’s electrical load reached 3,550 megawatts on Monday evening, as reported by the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).

During this winter season, the maximum load reached its peak at 4,050 megawatts, as per official data.

It is noteworthy that the highest electrical load ever recorded in the Kingdom took place last August, reaching an unprecedented peak of 4,220 megawatts.

Source: Jordan News Agency