UAE authorities are "very optimistic" they will resolve a dispute with the maker of BlackBerry devices before a threatened ban comes into force in two weeks, a top Abu Dhabi Government official said yesterday. The ban on BlackBerry's messaging and e-mail services is to take effect on October 11. Citing national security concerns, the UAE Government last month demanded to be given the means to circumvent BlackBerry's encryption technology.
Talks between government officials and Research In Motion (RIM), Blackberry's Canadian maker, were "very advanced. It's been very positive", said Mohammed al Bowardi, the Secretary General of the Executive Council, the Abu Dhabi Government's top decision-making body. "People are working very hard to resolve the issues," Mr al Bowardi said yesterday. "We are very optimistic we will solve this by the deadline."
The UAE is one of several countries that have expressed concerns about BlackBerry's virtually unbreakable data encryption. India granted RIM a two-month extension until October after threatening to ban BlackBerry service in the world's second-fastest growing mobile market unless the company provided Indian authorities with the means to monitor messages. RIM has reportedly encountered technical problems in its effort to give Indian officials access to corporate BlackBerry messages but has successfully installed a monitoring programme for its messenger service.
Last month, authorities in Saudi Arabia announced that the country would not ban BlackBerry's messenger service while efforts to find a solution continued. Other countries that have expressed concerns about their inability to monitor BlackBerry services include Lebanon, Indonesia and Kuwait.
cstanton@thenational.ae
dgeorgecosh@thenational.ae
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
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