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Cyprus Authorities Successfully Repel Cyberattack on Government Portal

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 21, 2024

On Sunday, Cyprus authorities effectively thwarted a cyberattack targeting the government’s central portal, as confirmed by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy. The hackers aimed to disrupt access to government websites and compromise the information available, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

According to the Deputy Ministry, swift and coordinated actions by relevant teams ensured the situation was quickly resolved. The only site affected was the central portal, gov.cy, and even then, it was only down for a few minutes. No other government websites or online services were impacted, and no data breaches occurred during the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.

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Authorities emphasized that all systems are under heightened security and remain vigilant against further threats.

This marks the sixth cyberattack within three days. On Saturday, Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) also faced an attack, which temporarily took down its website. However, Cyta’s systems were not compromised, and the issue was swiftly managed, according to the organization’s President of the Board of Directors, Maria Tsiakka Olympiou.

UAE’s Foreign Trade Hits Record $820 Billion In 2024, Fueled By Strategic Deals

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 5, 2025

In 2024, the UAE’s foreign trade reached a historic $820 billion (AED 3 trillion), marking a significant achievement for the nation. This milestone was driven by a rise in international trade agreements, with Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, highlighting the pivotal role these partnerships played in the country’s economic growth.

Strong Trade Growth

The UAE’s foreign trade saw a robust 14.6% year-on-year growth in 2024, a stark contrast to global trade growth of just 2%. Sheikh Mohammed credited the nation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties globally, with a particular emphasis on the role of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has worked tirelessly to cultivate stronger international relationships.

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The Impact Of CEPAs

A key contributor to the UAE’s foreign trade success is the implementation of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs). These agreements, spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, added an impressive $36.8 billion (AED 135 billion) to the UAE’s non-oil trade in 2024, marking a 42% increase from the previous year. These agreements are helping to cement the UAE’s position as a global trade hub.

Achieving Ambitious Goals Early

In 2021, the UAE set an ambitious target of reaching $1.1 trillion (AED 4 trillion) in foreign trade by 2031. By the end of 2024, the country had already achieved 75% of this goal, putting it on track to surpass this target well ahead of schedule. This rapid progress reflects the UAE’s strong economic vision and strategic focus on progress over politics.

Exports Surge

The UAE’s exports also saw a significant jump in 2024, rising 32% between January and October compared to the same period in 2023. This performance highlights the strength of the country’s industrial strategy and its growing global market access.

Outlook for 2025

The UAE’s economic outlook remains strong, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting 4% growth in 2025, driven by non-oil sectors such as tourism, construction, and financial services.

In conclusion, the UAE’s record-breaking trade figures are a testament to its effective economic strategies and its growing influence in global markets.