Europe and Middle East information technology (IT)
Read the latest European and Middle East information technology (IT) news and articles covering IT management topics, including information security, data storage, networking, data centre, cloud computing, mobile applications, virtualisation, big data and more.
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News
19 May 2025
Trump visit bolsters Saudi AI
A new AI datacentre is among the initiatives the White House announced during the president’s Middle East visits Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2025
Dutch universities call for reduced dependence on Big Tech
Dutch universities are calling for greater digital autonomy as more research and educational data is stored in American clouds, posing risks to academic freedom, privacy and accessibility Continue Reading
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E-Zine
26 Nov 2020
CW Nordics: Bank branch closures continue as digital banking grows
Sweden’s Handelsbanken is cutting its branch network by nearly half, which means more money will be invested in IT. But it’s not just Sweden and the Nordics – banks across the world are watching the fintech industry demonstrate to consumers what banking can be like if the right technology is in place. Also in this issue, read about the Norwegian government’s decision not to implement an outright ban on the use of 5G equipment supplied by China's Huawei. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Nov 2020
Brain researchers get NVMe-over-RoCE for super-fast HPC storage
French neurological researchers deploy Western Digital OpenFlex NVMe array for super-fast HPC storage with Ethernet-based NVMe-over-Fabrics connectivity across several floors Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2020
Amazon Swedish language site will expand reach of local retailers
Amazon launches Swedish language website and promises to make more products available in the Nordic region Continue Reading
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23 Nov 2020
Finnish finance giant pilots fingerprint payments
OP Financial introduces biometric security technology to enable higher-value payments to be made safely using contactless cards Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2020
Privacy advocates call for European probe into Palantir
Dutch group SOMI is trying to raise awareness of Palantir’s data privacy practices and how it works with European government agencies Continue Reading
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13 Nov 2020
IT Priorities 2020: European IT budget share reflects home-working challenges brought by Covid
European organisations are being forced to redivert more limited budgets during the pandemic Continue Reading
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13 Nov 2020
Dutch IT award recognises importance of research in the wild
Promoter of human-centric scientific research techniques claims the prestigious 2020 Netherlands Prize for ICT Research Continue Reading
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12 Nov 2020
Company accused of spying on Assange acted for Ecuadorian Intelligence, says ex UC Global manager
Former operations chief of UC Global told Spanish Court the company accused of spying on Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London was acting on the orders of Ecuadorian Intelligence Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Nov 2020
CW Benelux: Dutch Alzheimer’s app helps dementia patients
An app aimed at helping dementia patients and their families has been developed by the Alzheimer Society in the Netherlands. Also in this issue, read about a Belgian startup's app based on blockchain technology to help container handling at ports, and why Rabobank ditched its legacy backup. Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2020
Norway has lowest physical cash use in the world, says report
Norway claims to use less cash as a proportion of total spending than any other country across the globe, according to a study by its central bank Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2020
EU aid funds used to train ‘unaccountable intelligence agencies’ in high-tech surveillance
Hundreds of documents obtained by campaign group Privacy International show how the EU is supporting surveillance programmes in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2020
Deutsche Bank to sell retail banking IT unit to TCS for €1
Deutsche Bank has agreed to sell its retail banking IT operation to one of its main IT suppliers for a token €1 Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2020
Tampere’s perfect storm triggers a startup revolution
Previously a hub for Nokia and Microsoft, Finland’s second-largest city is capitalising on a wealth of technical knowhow to become the dark horse of the Nordic startup scene Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2020
Nordic countries to develop common digital system
Common digital platform will help small and medium-sized enterprises across the Nordic region with data sharing Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2020
Robot lawyer gets Sberbank role
Russia's largest state-owned bank creates a robot lawyer to reduce the time taken to process documents and make decisions based on them Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2020
Finnish government rolls out digital projects to support SMEs
Finland is set to create network of technology hubs that will support SMEs in the country, as well as create links across the EU Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2020
Finnish therapy centre accused of covering up cyber attack
Private therapy practice Vastaamo faces questions over its security and business practices in the months leading up to one of the biggest data breaches in Finland’s history Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2020
Sopra Steria hit by new version of Ryuk ransomware
IT services company Sopra Steria says it has contained the ransomware virus, but systems will take a few weeks to be fully operational Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2020
Highly unusual hacking attack directly threatens therapy patients
A hacker has directly contacted therapy patients to say their highly personal therapy notes will be put on the internet unless they pay the ransom Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2020
Dutch government ‘unambitious’ in digital
The Netherlands has been working at home as much as possible since the outbreak of Covid-19, but its dependence on technology and connectivity does not seem to be reflected by the government’s approach to digitisation Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2020
Cooperation between Norway’s security agencies planned following cyber attack on parliament
Government seeks to develop enhanced national IT infrastructure with an embedded early warning system and defence shield to protect the IT systems of public and private organisations Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2020
Deutsche Bank in talks over sale of IT unit to TCS
German bank is said to be in negotiations to sell its retail banking IT operation to Indian IT giant Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2020
Orange Belgium reveals first 5G innovations in Port of Antwerp
Augmented field operators and connected tugboats are potential use cases as applications based on next-generation network aim to go full steam ahead at Belgian port Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2020
Saudi Arabian authorities work with Chinese IT giants on digital goals
Saudi Arabia has signed two agreements with Chinese IT suppliers as it strives to deliver its ambitious programme to diversify its economy Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2020
Nordic countries in denial over IT industry equality
Arriving in Denmark to find she was the only woman on a computer science master’s course was a shock to Plamena Cherneva Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2020
Nordic CIO Interview: Teemu Salmi, Stora Enso
Working with startup communities helps to drive digital transformation at one of the world’s largest forest industry companies, Stora Enso Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2020
Estonian rude awakening spurs tech startup activity
Money laundering scandal in Estonia has sparked tech startup activity in the Baltic country as banks look for answers Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2020
Spanish court to question witnesses over ‘illegal surveillance’ of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
The Spanish National Court in Madrid is to hear evidence from information security expert Andy Müller-Maguhn and two lawyers who were subject to ‘illegal surveillance’ of their meetings with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Continue Reading
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E-Zine
08 Oct 2020
CW Middle East: Egypt’s datacentre plans take a step forward
While it builds an IT services industry, Egypt is also investing in infrastructure and now plans to develop a datacentre industry. Read in this issue how, as part of this plan, Egypt’s parliament has passed a data protection law. Also read how the Europe, Middle East and Africa region has seen traditional IT outsourcing deals reduce in value by 21%, while the business process outsourcing market fell by 9%. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2020
WikiLeaks led the way for newsrooms to use encryption to protect sources, says Italian journalist
Stefania Maurizi says in written evidence that Julian Assange pioneered the use of encryption by journalists to protect sources. Her work shows that the US put pressure on Italy to stop the extradition and prosecution of CIA officers responsible for the extrajudicial kidnapping and torture of an Egyptian cleric Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2020
Benelux ports use blockchain in major efficiency drive
Belgian startup T-Mining develops application based on blockchain technology to make container handling safer and more efficient Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2020
Norway leaves door open to Huawei
Government gives telecoms companies responsibility to choose their equipment suppliers, which could include Huawei Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2020
Coronavirus has changed perception of healthtech, say ministers
German health minister Jens Spahn and UK health secretary Matt Hancock say Covid-19 has accelerated healthcare technology adoption across Europe and changed attitudes towards tech in the healthcare system Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2020
Nordic CIO interview: Per Boström, Skanska
The construction industry may be a slow starter when it comes to adopting digital technology, but it is reaping the benefits quickly, with Sweden’s Skanska focused on playing catch up, according to CIO Per Boström Continue Reading
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22 Sep 2020
Green Cargo extends Rimini contract to keep legacy SAP backend running
Mainframe and SAP to provide systems of record, with real-time data for new digitisation initiatives, built on multi-cloud, RPA and low-code platforms Continue Reading
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17 Sep 2020
Saudi Arabia sees cyber security boom as coronavirus bites
Saudi Arabian CIOs have been forced to increase their security posture as the Covid-19 pandemic transforms working methods Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2020
Swedish bank cuts branches and jobs, increases IT spend
Swedish bank is increasing investment IT to improve digital banking as it reduces its branch network Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Sep 2020
CW Europe: IT expertise in banks’ boardrooms reduces risk, says European regulator
Banks have for many years been underpinned by vast IT operations, but in the age of digital banking the IT is now front, centre and back of operations. It is therefore surprising that there are relatively few IT professionals sitting on the boards of Europe’s big banks. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2020
Nordic CIO interview: Maria Lundberg, ICA Gruppen
The CIO of Swedish retail giant ICA Gruppen, Maria Lundberg, who is overseeing the digitisation of four retail sectors, tells Computer Weekly about the challenges of providing shared IT services for localised needs Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2020
Abu Dhabi government launches peer-to-peer coding campus
Abu Dhabi government launches a specialist programming school that uses peer-to-peer teaching methods and gamification Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2020
Nordic banks invest and innovate to keep digital rivals at bay
Large traditional banks are accelerating their digital transformations as the regional fintech sector makes its presence felt Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2020
Dutch bank set to save €5m via Veeam backup upgrade
Rabobank ditched legacy backup where patching took months and restores took hours. Those times are now cut down massively and the bank has a readily available test environment Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2020
Norway’s corporates want government to support ‘herd immunity’ to cyber attack
Leading business organisations in Norway call on government to play a more active role in improving and coordinating the country’s cyber defences Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2020
CTO interview: David Rafalovsky, Sberbank Group
Russia’s Sberbank is well into its digital transformation journey, with artificial intelligence and supercomputing now at the centre of its plans Continue Reading
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E-Zine
27 Aug 2020
CW Nordics: Bergen’s tech hub seeks global success
Norway’s second-largest city, Bergen, is building a tech ecosystem that is beginning its development with a focus on the city’s industrial heritage. Also in this issue, read why now might be the time for businesses to consider how they will invest in outsourcing IT once the Covid-19 pandemic wanes. And read how Norway’s government has had to backtrack on a law that removed tax relief on energy consumption at datacentres that process cryptocurrency mining. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2020
Nordic startups send a message to global investment community
Early-stage tech companies across the world should set up Nordic operations earlier in their development journeys Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2020
Dutch Alzheimer’s app developed to aid interaction for dementia patients
An app aimed at helping dementia patients and their families has been developed by the Alzheimer Society in the Netherlands. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Aug 2020
CW Benelux: Security system concerns at Schiphol Airport
A report has revealed problems with critical security systems at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Also read why the Netherlands’ digital sector is yearning for attention from the government, and how data weaknesses persist despite Dutch companies investing heavily to comply with GDPR. Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2020
Beyond.pl plots Polish datacentre campus expansion to capitalise on growing continental cloud demand
Polish colocation provider Beyond.pI says expansion plans are in direct response to growing demand for sustainably powered datacentre capacity in central Europe Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2020
French data protection authorities to probe TikTok as suitors circle
France’s CNIL has confirmed a new investigation into TikTok’s data protection practices Continue Reading
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05 Aug 2020
Netherlands investigates innovative privacy technology SSI
Dutch research organisation is looking into areas where self-sovereign identity technology could be used in society and business Continue Reading
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05 Aug 2020
Egypt’s datacentre plans take key step forward
Government lays the foundations for a datacentre industry with its new data protection law Continue Reading
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04 Aug 2020
Nordic enterprises look for SAP price reductions as they navigate Covid-19
Businesses in the Nordics are using SAP Cloud Platform to address Covid-19 challenges and are also seeking price reductions Continue Reading
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03 Aug 2020
Private equity leads Nordic IT sector consolidation
Private equity firms and industrial giants are triggering mergers and acquisitions in the Nordic tech sector as investment slows amid the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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03 Aug 2020
Estonian police and border services need better IT to block criminals from becoming e-residents
Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia needs to improve its IT systems to stop criminals from becoming e-residents, says report Continue Reading
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30 Jul 2020
Finland government funds work on potential quantum leap
Finland's government is committing money to the development of quantum computing technologies to potentially provide a giant leap for the nation's industries Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2020
How analogue film will be the future of digital history
The pandemic meant GitHub had to wait until July to store a 21TB snapshot of its code repositories, on special film that can last a thousand years Continue Reading
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22 Jul 2020
Slack takes legal route against ‘weak, copycat’ Teams
Microsoft could be set for another joust with the EU, as its rival, Slack, files an anti-competitive complaint Continue Reading
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22 Jul 2020
Aramex ships in Rackspace Technology to accelerate datacentre downsizing and move to AWS cloud
Dubai-based international shipping and logistics firm Aramex is in the midst of a cloud-focused digital transformation designed to tighten up its last-mile delivery operations with the help of Rackspace Technology Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2020
New opportunities for Nordic startups post-Covid-19 as virtual offices become the norm
As companies adjust to digital office life in the pandemic era, a host of Nordic startups are already helping them convert these short-term fixes into long-term strategy Continue Reading
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22 Jul 2020
Privacy Shield: Companies face new hurdles to legally transfer data to the US
Businesses will have to conduct legal assessments to ensure they can transfer data from the EU to the US and other countries, following a European Court of Justice ruling Continue Reading
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21 Jul 2020
BMW Group signs six-year HPC contract with eco-friendly Swedish colocation firm
Motor manufacturer agrees to double-down on its use of EcoDataCenter's environmentally friendly colocation facilities Continue Reading
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21 Jul 2020
Russia Report reveals long-running cyber warfare campaign against UK
Russia has been hacking the UK for years and the British government has also known about it for years, according to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report Continue Reading
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21 Jul 2020
Santander consumer arm to automate further after Nordic project
Time and cost savings achieved by RPA pilot were high and customer experience improved, says bank Continue Reading
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17 Jul 2020
BBVA explores quantum computing for banking
Early results from BBVA's research into quantum computing shows that the technology's application in complex computational tasks in banking is not far away Continue Reading
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17 Jul 2020
Nordic CIO interview: Brede Nielsen, Avinor
The Covid-19 pandemic put Avinor’s IT head at the centre of the airport operator's response Continue Reading
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16 Jul 2020
Room for improvement in Dutch digital skills
The Netherlands has good telecommunications and IT networks that can be used safely and reliably, but there is room for improvement in digital skills among the Dutch Continue Reading
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15 Jul 2020
Huge declines in traditional outsourcing as Covid-19 puts a stop on deals
Traditional IT outsourcing deals value plummets in the last quarter as contracts dry up amid Covid-19 disruption Continue Reading
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09 Jul 2020
Dutch banking’s transaction monitoring utility gets green light
Plans for a shared utility to monitor financial transactions in the Netherlands have been given the go-ahead after six months of proving the concept Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Jul 2020
CW Middle East: Facing up to coronavirus
The UAE, like the rest of the world, continues to be heavily impacted by the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic – and technology is helping to lead the fight. Also read why the the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company sees its flagship digital project in high demand, and how the coronavirus has spurred the use of financial technology in Bahrain. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2020
Avinor creates contactless airport check-in for Norway
Norwegian airport operator introduces touchless travel check-in to limit the potential spread of Covid-19 Continue Reading
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03 Jul 2020
Bergen’s tech hub seeking to scale after positive start
Norway's second largest city is building a tech ecosystem that is beginning its development with a focus on the city's industrial heritage Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2020
Police secrecy over ‘IMSI-catcher’ mass surveillance of mobile phones
Following a tribunal ruling, constabularies in England and Wales can refuse to confirm or deny whether they use mass surveillance devices, known as IMSI-catchers to monitor people’s location, phone calls and text messages Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2020
Lenovo, top-of-the-world Chinese supercomputer supplier, sweeps all markets
Supercomputers are not just about computing power, they are a symbol of political ambition. Chinese supercomputer supplier Lenovo is now the dominant supplier across the world Continue Reading
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29 Jun 2020
Lawyers learn of fresh US allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from press reports
The US has filed an updated indictment against Julian Assange alleging that he conspired with hacking groups to obtain information for WikiLeaks. Defence and prosecution lawyers learned about it from press reports Continue Reading
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29 Jun 2020
Airports deploy thermal cameras to control Covid-19, science suggests it’s merely ‘safety theatre’
UK airports are rolling out thermal surveillance cameras to identify people who may have coronavirus, but science says the technology is ineffective at detecting and preventing the spread of the disease Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2020
EU-backed bid to build data preservation cloud for European research community gathers pace
The Archiver project, which aims to create a hybrid cloud-based data preservation environment for scientific researchers across Europe, has named the ICT suppliers in the running to deliver on its vision Continue Reading
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18 Jun 2020
Nordic business is leading open banking charge in Europe
Nordic region has the right ingredients to prove open banking can benefit consumers, businesses and the economy Continue Reading
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18 Jun 2020
Datacentre investment boost as Norway’s government reinstates tax relief
Government reinstates datacentre energy tax relief for cryptocurrency mining organisations after investments in the country’s datacentres drops Continue Reading
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17 Jun 2020
Amnesty identifies most privacy-invasive Covid-19 contact-tracing apps
Bahrain’s ‘BeAware Bahrain’, Kuwait’s ‘Shlonik’ and Norway’s ‘Smittestopp’ are the most privacy-invasive contact-tracing apps, reveals Amnesty International study Continue Reading
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16 Jun 2020
Danske Bank begins process of creating autonomous development teams
Danish bank begins the process of changing how thousands of its staff work as it attempts to be more responsive to digital demand Continue Reading
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16 Jun 2020
Norway’s contact-tracing app suspended over privacy concerns
Norway has been given until 23 June to justify the location tracking of citizens who download its contract-tracing app Continue Reading
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12 Jun 2020
Santander to recruit 3,000 more IT staff
Spanish bank to recruit a further 3,000 tech staff globally to accelerate its digital transformation Continue Reading
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11 Jun 2020
Tech firms respond to Nordic government calls
Nordic firms are working with tech suppliers to help them get back up and running after Covid-19 Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Jun 2020
CW Europe: 5G rush in Russia
Russian mobile operators are pooling their resources to help them overcome the technical challenges of creating 5G networks. Also read why Swedbank is rebuilding its anti-money laundering systems, and how a public-private partnership in the Netherlands is combating business email compromise fraud. Continue Reading
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10 Jun 2020
Berlin breaks the national mould to become a global hub
German capital is attracting tech startups from across the world as it cements its position as a leading European hub Continue Reading
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10 Jun 2020
CaixaBank introduces facial recognition ATMs
Spanish bank broadens its use of facial recognition technology on cash machines Continue Reading
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09 Jun 2020
AS Roma to develop video tracking with Acronis AI expertise
Italian football club will get variable-price ticketing using artificial intelligence expertise to develop systems. It has also deployed Acronis cloud backup Continue Reading
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09 Jun 2020
Netherlands digital sector yearns for government recognition
The sector building and supporting the Netherlands’ digital infrastructure wants to be valued as highly as Schiphol airport and the port of Rotterdam are for the Dutch economy Continue Reading
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08 Jun 2020
Nordic CIO interview: Janne Puustinen, Valmet
Janne Puustinen built Finnish industrial technology company Valmet’s entire IT organisation from scratch after a demerger Continue Reading
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05 Jun 2020
Businesses develop apps quickly to manage disruption of Covid-19
Healthcare companies, insurers, government agencies and big tech companies have used technology from Pegasystems to develop apps to manage the disruption caused by coronavirus Continue Reading
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04 Jun 2020
Dutch organisations invest heavily in compliance – but in vain
Despite the fact that companies in the Netherlands have invested heavily to comply with GDPR legislation introduced two years ago, 90% of them are still discovering fundamental weaknesses in their IT environment Continue Reading
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03 Jun 2020
Lidl Finland speeds up with new local server racks
Lidl brings server racks to its Finnish stores in a bid to improve connectivity and introduce new services to its customers Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2020
Egypt offers free tech scholarship to 100,000 citizens
Egypt's youths are being offered free training to help them to prepare for the careers of the future Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2020
How Saudi Arabia is using cloud to navigate the Covid-19 downturn
Organisations in Saudi Arabia are using cloud computing services to help them navigate challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic Continue Reading
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E-Zine
22 May 2020
CW Nordics: Startups face tough decisions as coronavirus hits
Tech startups based in the Nordic region face difficult decisions as the Covid-19 pandemic leads to falling sales and investment. Also read why Swedbank is rebuilding its anti-money laundering systems, and how Nordic fintechs are developing apps to prevent more adults getting into financial difficulty. Continue Reading
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21 May 2020
Coronavirus: Dutch work on XR technology shows promise in pandemic scenario
Netherlands leads the way in the development of extended reality technology, which could prove its value in a crisis such as Covid-19 Continue Reading
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20 May 2020
Coronavirus: Pandemic spurs QR code app upgrade at PayPal
PayPal introduces QR code payment functionality to its mobile app to support social distancing Continue Reading
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20 May 2020
Coronavirus: Bahrain sees fintech take-up surge amid Covid-19 crisis
Covid-19 has spurred the use of financial technology in Bahrain, which could boost the industry in the country and wider Gulf region Continue Reading
