Category: Technology

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Apr 20 – The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), the region’s leading not-for-profit fintech industry body and globally ranked among the top fintech associations, is pleased to welcome Facephi, a global technology company specializing in digital identity verification and AI driven fraud prevention solutions, as a new scaleup member.

Facephi joins MFTA at a time when financial institutions across the Middle East are accelerating digital transformation initiatives and prioritizing secure digital onboarding, identity verification, and fraud prevention capabilities. As banks and fintech providers continue to expand digital services, robust identity technologies are becoming a critical foundation for secure, compliant, and seamless financial experiences.

Facephi delivers advanced end-to-end solutions that enable financial institutions to securely verify users, prevent fraud, and streamline digital onboarding processes. Its technology combines artificial intelligence, biometric recognition, and digital identity verification to help organizations provide secure, frictionless access to financial services while meeting evolving regulatory requirements.

With a strong global footprint, Facephi works with banks, financial institutions, and digital service providers across multiple regions, supporting secure customer authentication, regulatory compliance, and digital identity management in increasingly digital financial ecosystems.

As part of its engagement with the Association, Facephi will contribute its expertise to MFTA’s ecosystem initiatives focused on digital identity, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and secure financial infrastructure. As digital banking adoption accelerates across the region, biometric authentication and identity verification technologies are playing a growing role in enabling trusted financial services and protecting both institutions and customers.

Henry Rosas, Senior Commercial Director, Facephi Middle East, commented:

“Joining the MENA Fintech Association marks a strategic step in reinforcing our commitment to the region’s digital transformation. At Facephi, we are seeing a significant acceleration in demand for secure digital identity and fraud prevention solutions, driven by the rapid growth of digital banking and financial inclusion initiatives”.

 

Digital identity and biometric authentication have become key enablers of financial inclusion and secure digital transformation. Financial institutions across the Middle East are increasingly investing in identity technologies to support digital onboarding, strengthen compliance frameworks, and mitigate fraud risks while delivering seamless user experiences for customers.

MFTA continues to serve as a trusted platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators through working groups, roundtables, partnerships, and thought leadership initiatives. Facephi’s membership further strengthens the Association’s commitment to advancing secure digital infrastructure, responsible fintech innovation, and collaboration across the MENA ecosystem.

Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association and Founder of Fils, added:

“The MENA region continues to demonstrate strong progress in digital financial services, underpinned by resilience, regulatory advancement, and increasing institutional participation. At the MENA Fintech Association, we remain committed to actively supporting this growth by working closely with regulators, financial institutions, and technology leaders across the region. As digital identity becomes increasingly critical to enabling secure and inclusive financial ecosystems, we welcome Facephi to the Association. Their expertise will further strengthen our collective efforts to build trusted, compliant, and resilient financial infrastructure across MENA.”

STOCKHOLM / PHILADELPHIA, April 18, 2026 — As AI models grow powerful enough to autonomously discover thousands of software vulnerabilities, the same technology is being embedded into enterprise applications at an unprecedented scale, often without any security testing designed for AI-specific risks. Outpost24, a leading global provider of cybersecurity solutions, today launched AI Pentesting, an expert-led adversarial testing service that helps mid-to-large enterprises find and fix security weaknesses in their AI-powered systems before attackers or autonomous AI models do.

The new service extends Outpost24’s established penetration testing practice, drawing on more than five years of CREST-certified expertise and following OffSec’s AI-300 Advanced AI Red Teaming methodology. The launch comes as regulatory pressure intensifies, with the EU AI Act moving into its 2026 implementation phase and emerging models such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework raising expectations for AI security due diligence.

The OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications has formalized a category of attack vectors, including prompt injection, data leakage, unsafe output generation, and the exploitation of agent workflows, that existing application security tools were never designed to detect. Dynamic scanning, static code analysis, and API testing assess deterministic application logic; they cannot evaluate how a Large Language Model reasons, how it responds to adversarial inputs, or how it interacts with external tools and sensitive data it may access. The result is a widening blind spot that carries both operational and compliance consequences for any organization deploying AI at scale.

AI Pentesting applies the same human-validation methodology behind Outpost24’s established penetration testing practice, adapted for the behavioral complexity of AI systems. Testing spans the full AI attack surface, including the model and prompt layer, RAG pipelines, agent workflows, and the supporting APIs and interfaces that connect them. Engagements begin with system discovery and mapping, then move through adversarial testing and access-context validation before concluding with analysis and audit-ready reporting. Unlike automated scanning tools, which identify known patterns but cannot simulate creative adversarial thinking, Outpost24’s specialists follow OSAI+ guidelines to evaluate application behavior under real-world adversarial conditions, informed by the work of the Outpost24 Threat Intelligence Team. Clients receive actionable findings ranked by severity with remediation guidance specific to AI and LLM architectures, delivered through Outpost24’s single platform alongside the company’s broader portfolio of security testing capabilities.

 

 

LAS VEGAS, Apr 17 – Sony Electronics will return to NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show 2026, a leading event for the media and entertainment industry. From April 19-22, the company will be in booth #C8401 in Las Vegas focusing on live production, news production, imaging, and virtual production, demonstrating the latest technologies designed to address emerging challenges and needs in broadcast and production. 

“At this year’s NAB Show, Sony’s theme is ‘The Power Behind Your Story’ which demonstrates how our technologies are the driving force behind various forms of storytelling,” said Anthony Kable, CCS Group Manager, Sony Australia. “From products to workflows, and acquisition to delivery, Sony has the right people, tools and expertise to enable creators to capture their vision and communicate their truth with quality and authenticity.”

The media and entertainment landscape is changing, and Sony is debuting solutions through the entire production workflow that provide authenticity and provenance, create more personalized and emotional viewing experiences, and support XR and spatial content creation.

At the Sony booth, visitors will experience live production solutions including the evolution of Sony’s “Networked Live” ecosystem, as well as new system cameras offering exceptional image quality and system scalability, enhanced workflows for news production that enable fast and highly reliable reporting, the latest in Virtual Production tools and processes, and a comprehensive lineup of imaging solutions. The company will also showcase XYN™ (/Zin/)’s “spatial capture solution.” 

Additionally, Sony will host many engaging presentations and talks on trending topics throughout the show featuring notable industry voices. For more details about the company’s presence, please visit Sony’s NAB Show website. 

Key Exhibits and Technology Highlights

Scalable, Flexible, and Simplified Live Production

Sony will present its new “R Series” system camera lineup, which builds on the strengths of the existing HDC-5000 and HDC-3000 series while significantly enhancing image performance, system expandability through additional transmission pathways and infrastructure options, and usability that enables consistent color matching across models. Additionally, the new series will address challenging lighting conditions by offering an expanded dynamic range for enhanced details, and operation modes to address different lighting environments. Models include HDC-5500R, HDC-5500RV, HDC-3500R, HDC-3500RV, and HDC-3200R, along with related products such as the HDCU-3500R Camera Control Unit and the HKCU-LUT35 3D LUT option board. The models are planned to be available in mid-2026.

Sony will also demonstrate newly released firmware updates for the PTZ auto-framing cameras BRC-AM7 (Ver. 3.0), SRG-A40, and SRG-A12 (Ver. 4.0). Leveraging Sony’s latest AI technologies, these updates expand functionality to support increasingly diverse production needs, including sports broadcasting, education, and corporate content creation. 

Sony will exhibit MOXELA, a new software-based media processing platform running on COTS (commercial off the shelf) servers or in the cloud, designed to transform how broadcasters, production companies, and media organizations transport, process, and monitor live video, audio, and data.

Additionally, attendees will see demonstrations of new features for the MLS-X1 multi-format switcher, enabling efficient production by sharing input and output signals across multiple studios. Sony will also debut the ICP-X7000A, a control panel featuring a newly developed XPT operation panel that significantly improves visibility and operability and is planned to be available in late 2026.

Smarter, Faster, and More Secure News Production Workflows

For the first time at NAB Show, Sony’s recently launched PXW-Z300 XDCAM handheld AI-powered camcorder – the world’s first[1]to support the C2PA[2] standard for video authenticity[3] – will demonstrate the growing demand for trustworthy news reporting through authenticity and provenance.

Sony continues to propose a range of workflows through partner collaboration. At NAB Show, the company will present an end-to-end workflow that leverages camera-originated authenticity files and metadata from the field through immediate production and editing. This workflow is achieved with the LiveU TX1, a compact IP bonding-capable data transmitter (announced in September 2025), the PDT-FP1 portable data transmitter, and the newly announced PWA-RXS Network RX Station. 

In addition, LiveU has announced a further expansion of its integration with Sony’s PWA-RXS through an optional license. A reference demo will showcase a new workflow powered by Sony’s cellular connectivity management system, featuring real-time carrier optimization and seamless global connectivity for creators.

 Imaging Innovations without Limits

Sony’s comprehensive lineup of Alpha™ cameras and lenses continues to expand, empowering creators at every level of production. Launched in late 2025, the Alpha 7 V capable of 4K 60p capture without crop[4] will be making its first appearance at NAB Show. The 33 MP (approx.) full-frame hybrid model incorporates a BIONZ XR2^TM processor with an integrated AI processing engine to facilitate subject recognition and Auto Framing. Additionally, the latest version (Ver. 2.6) of the Monitor & Control app, which enables video monitoring and remote control from smartphones, tablets, and Macs, will be showcased.

Sony’s diverse Cinema Line cameras will enhance their functionality. The FR7 cinematic PTZ camera recently added AI-based Auto Framing and support for OpenTrackIO protocol through a Ver. 4.0 firmware update, while the FX6 full-frame Cinema Line camera rolled out BIG 6 home screen display support for easy access to top functions.

Additionally, experience spatial content creation brought to life through the VENICE Extension System Mini (Rialto) combined with the glasses-free 3D Spatial Reality Display.

The Growth of Virtual Production and Spatial Content Creation

As a technology manufacturer, Sony offers a robust and inclusive ecosystem of Virtual Production solutions, from cameras and camera tracking to LED walls and purpose-built software that support creativity and streamline production processes. Firmware updates and the addition of new tools and enhancements, such as Sony’s Virtual Production Tool Set Ver. 3.0, continue to elevate visual storytelling capabilities.

Sony will launch the XYN Spatial Capture Solution, which generates photorealistic 3DCG (3D Computer Graphics) assets from photographs taken with mirrorless cameras. This professional solution, which will be shown at NAB Show and is expected to be available mid-2026, is comprised of three tools designed for use across virtual production and a wide range of 3DCG content creation workflows. XYN Spatial Scan Navi is a smartphone app[5] that guides efficient image capture. XYN Spatial Scan is a web application that delivers studio-grade generation quality. Finally, the XYN Renderer Plugin, enables highly realistic rendering for virtual production studios.

 

Apr 17 (BNP): India has significantly strengthened its position in the US smartphone supply chain, capturing around 40 per cent share and emerging as a major manufacturing hub, according to a recent report.

The shift reflects a broader realignment in global supply chains, with companies diversifying production away from China and increasingly turning to India for manufacturing and exports.

The report highlighted that India’s growing role is supported by government initiatives, improved infrastructure, and rising investments in electronics manufacturing.

This transition marks a notable change in global sourcing strategies, as companies seek more resilient and diversified supply chains amid geopolitical and economic considerations.

Industry experts believe that India’s expanding manufacturing ecosystem and policy support will continue to drive its growth as a preferred destination for smartphone production and exports.

Apr 17 (BNP): The global technology industry is undergoing a continued phase of workforce restructuring in 2026, with more than 95,000 employees impacted across 241 companies as of mid-April. This trend follows a significant wave of layoffs in 2025, during which over 245,000 workers were affected across the sector.

The ongoing workforce adjustments reflect a broader transformation within the industry, as companies shift focus toward artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and automation-driven operations. This transition is prompting organizations to realign talent strategies, reduce excess capacity from previous expansion cycles, and prioritize efficiency and profitability.

Major technology firms across software, hardware, and IT services have implemented restructuring measures, impacting a wide range of roles. The increasing integration of AI technologies is also contributing to job consolidation, enabling companies to operate with leaner teams.

Regionally, the effects are most visible in global technology hubs such as the United States, while markets like India are also experiencing shifts, particularly within IT services and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), as companies adapt to evolving global demand.

Despite the current wave of layoffs, industry analysts view this period as a structural transition, with long-term growth expected to be driven by innovation, digital transformation, and the expanding role of AI in business operations.

Apr 17 (BNP): Mobilla, a mobile accessories and power solutions brand in India, has announced Indian cricketer Shivam Dube as its new brand ambassador.

The company said the association comes at a significant moment following India’s recent cricket success and reflects shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition.

Founded in 2010, Mobilla stated that it is preparing for its next phase of growth and aims to strengthen its presence across India’s offline and retail markets through this partnership.

The collaboration is intended to help the brand connect with younger consumers and reinforce its positioning in the competitive mobile accessories segment.

Mobilla Co-Founder Jignesh Shah said the brand focuses on building reliable products designed for important everyday moments, and noted that Shivam Dube represents a similar spirit of consistency and performance.

Apr 17 (BNP): US tech giant Apple Inc. has reported a major expansion in its sustainability efforts, saying that a record 30% of all materials used in products shipped in 2025 came from recycled sources.

In its latest statement, the Cupertino-based company said it has eliminated plastic from product packaging and now uses 100% recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries. It also confirmed the use of fully recycled rare earth elements in all magnets across its devices.

Apple said its products are now shipped in fibre-based packaging designed for easy household recycling, marking a significant shift away from plastic-based materials.

The company also reported a more than 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 compared to 2015 levels, with emissions remaining stable from 2024 despite strong business growth.

Highlighting progress across multiple sustainability areas, Apple pointed to improvements in renewable energy use, recycling systems, water conservation, and zero-waste initiatives.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company remains committed to environmental responsibility, adding that its sustainability goals are also driving innovation across its product ecosystem.

The company further stated that Apple-designed circuit boards now use 100% recycled gold plating and tin soldering, and it has avoided more than 15,000 metric tons of plastic over the past five years through packaging redesign.

Over the last decade, Apple engineers have replaced several plastic components in packaging with recycled or responsibly sourced paper alternatives, including screen protectors and trays.

The company also noted an increase in iPhone production in India, reflecting its ongoing effort to diversify manufacturing locations.

New Delhi, Apr 17 (BNP): Shares of IT major Wipro slipped in early trade on Friday, falling nearly 4% after the company reported a marginal decline in quarterly earnings and issued a subdued outlook.

The stock was under pressure following the company’s March quarter results for FY26, where net profit stood at ₹3,501.8 crore, marking a 1.89% drop compared to the same period last year. Investors also reacted negatively to the firm’s muted guidance for the coming quarters.

In morning trade, the stock declined 3.61% to ₹202.60 on the BSE, while on the NSE it fell 3.69% to ₹202.

Market participants said the reaction reflected concerns over near-term demand visibility in the IT sector, with investors remaining cautious amid global macroeconomic uncertainty and selective client spending.

Despite the fall, analysts note that broader sector trends will continue to depend on deal pipeline strength and discretionary IT spending recovery in key markets.