The Seven YouTube channels to watch out for this Ramadan

يو

Between the mega productions gracing the Middle East and North Africa’s television screens and the YouTube stars creating content especially for Ramadan, there is a lot of great shows to keep up with. Which could be difficult.

Since curiosity drives many of our decisions on which show to watch, we want to help you satisfy that curiosity. In addition to original YouTube videos being uploaded by creators throughout the Middle East just for Ramadan, some of the region’s most anticipated series have found a home on the platform as well.  You can watch these shows wherever and whenever you want, from the comfort of your sofa using Chromecast or during the commute to work on the metro.

Here are seven YouTube channels, in no particular order, to help you keep up with all the great shows this Ramadan.

1. CBC Egypt

Marvel at Yehia El-Fakharany’s latest work or learn how to make a classic Ramadan dish with Chef Sherbini, all uploaded to the CBC Egypt YouTube channel in HD.

2.  Watan Network

The TV station’s YouTube channel is the online home of “Khatoun”, a period drama bringing together some of Syria’s and the Arab world’s best actresses and actors.  

3. HaylaTV

YouTube Change Ambassador Hayla Ghazal has been making her viewers laugh for years. This Ramadan, “The Diary of a Teenage Girl” tells the story of the every-day life of a Middle Eastern teenager and her family. Watch out for Hayla in a fake mustache.  

4. Al Hayah TV

Al Hayah TV is one of the many broadcasters uploading the shows being aired on its channel to YouTube. One of the shows, “The Singer,” tells the story of one of Egypt’s most popular artists, and  joins a number of other acclaimed Ramadan TV series you can find on the Al Hayah YouTube channel.

5. Jay’s Cherry

Ramadan tents usually bring family, friends, and scrumptious iftars together in one place. Through her show, “Juju’s Ramadan Tent,”  Saudi YouTube creator Juhara Al Sajer is bringing her hundreds of thousands of followers tips and tricks to help them enjoy the best of the holy month.

6. The Saudi Reporters

In their first Ramadan-special, brothers Abdulaziz and Abdullah, the Saudi Reporters duo, take on the challenging task of running Ramadan-related errands. The two have been making their more than one million subscribers laugh since 2010 and they are not hitting the breaks this Ramadan.

7. ONTV

ONTV’s YouTube channel boasts some of the most anticipated Ramadan series this year, from Khaled El Nabawy’s “Seven Souls” to Youssef El Sherif’s action thriller “The Caesar.”

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Sheikh Zayed Book Award Accepts Nominations in Five Languages

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Coinciding with the launch of its 11th cycle for 2016/2017 cycle,  the Sheikh Zayed Book Award will accept nominations, in five different languages; English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German; for its category “Arab Culture in Other Languages”.

Previously in the category, the Award limited nominations to works in a total of three languages, with English language being constant while the other two change with every cycle.

Commenting on this decision, Dr Ali Bin Tamim said: “During our various interactions with leading cultural expert institutions across Europe, we realized the considerable amount of production of works that falls within the category addressing Arabic Culture from a foreign perspective. Hence we opted to include those five languages as a standard for every session which we believe will provide an opportunity for a wider pool of scholarly contributions to take part towards winning.”

Commenting on the challenges of increasing the number of languages, Bin Tamim added; “It is inevitable that adding new languages to the nominations will amplify the workload handled by the scientific committee throughout the selection process, both in terms of quantity of works and the variety of languages to be reviewed. Yet still, we believe it is worth the challenge as it represents a constructive step towards expanding the circle of choice and quality of works selected in each cycle.”

As for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s plans for the next phase, Mr. Saeed Hamdan, the Award’s Manager, said: “We have several participations lined up for this year, both at flagship international book fairs, in addition to key cultural seminars around the world. Our ultimate aim remains to open new channels of communication with global cultural institutions and build our relations towards establishing for strategic partnerships that helps us promote Arabic culture to an ever growing audience base.”  

It is noteworthy to mention that the call for nominations for the eleventh award cycle is on-going until October 1st of this year. Applicants can visit the award’s website (www.zayedawrd.ae ) for full details on how to participate.

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Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. Participates in Global Exhibitions Day

معارض الرياض

Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. participated in the Global Exhibitions Day,  celebrated on the 8th of June in Paris,  to raise awareness of the exhibition industry as one of the forces driving global trade and growth.
Driven by UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, IAEE – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events and numerous association partners from all around the world,  combine efforts and unite for this global initiative.

Exhibition organizers, venues, associations, and service providers from countries all around the world are uniting behind this global initiative. In more than 20 countries around the world, national events are set to take place to celebrate Global Exhibitions Day. 

Being a leading company in the Saudi Market, Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. Participated to present the role played by Saudi Exhibitions globally, the investment opportunities available at the Saudi Market and to provide accurate facts and figures on the MICE industry in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it is an excellent platform to discuss new trends and innovative ideas in this industry which is witnessing significant growth in the middle east in general and the Kingdom in Particular.

Mr. Edward Rabbat, Executive Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said “Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd was keen to participate in this global event to represent the Kingdom and enhance our presence which is a great opportunity to communicate our services to an international audience.”

Mr. Rabbat added, “Our client portfolio includes more than 1000 local and international exhibitors and sponsors who participates in our diversified shows organized in Saudi Arabia, and we always looking for opportunities to upgrade our services to better serve our increasing client portfolio.”

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Saudi Build Exhibition 2016 An outstanding event that follows huge developmental projects / Vision 2030

رؤية المملكة

The Transformation Vision 2030 announced by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the Kingdom’s mission to achieve economic diversification and reduce reliance on oil through increasing support and investment in sectors such as health care, industry, transport, energy, education and real estate sector, to support sustainable economic growth

The growth of these sectors must be accompanied by huge infrastructure development projects necessary for the establishment of educational and health care centers, industrial cities and housing projects, the development of roads and transport network facilities which will have a direct impact on the growth of the construction and building sector in spite of the negative impact resulting from the decline in oil prices.

Thus, the importance of the Saudi Build Exhibition arises, as its main mission is to gather leading companies to show case their services, capabilities, and projects to a specialized audience including specialized consultants, engineers, businessmen and decision makers.

Rapid preparations are under way to organize the 28th Saudi Build Exhibition that will be held between October 17th to October 20th, which will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, concurrently with the 19th Saudi International Stone & Stone Technology Exhibition, and the 7th International Exhibition for Construction Equipment, Plant, Machinery and Vehicles.

The Saudi Build Exhibition, the Kingdom’s largest construction trade exhibition which is accredited by the global association of the exhibition industry (UFI), will be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and it provides a dedicated platform to showcase a wide range of promising opportunities for huge construction projects.

This Exhibition proved it position throughout the years by the participation of thousands of companies and suppliers, networking with thousands of engineers, businessmen and specialists in the Kingdom, and introducing the latest trends of the development sector

Riyadh Exhibitions Company, the organizer of Saudi Build 2016, confirmed that the company is in the process of setting up this exhibition, and highlighted that the projects market in the Kingdom market is expected to remain relatively sizable over the upcoming period as a result of the positive economic developments, the increased investments in various sectors, the government’s participation, the rapid urbanization and population growth, the high demand for various residential and commercial projects. All of these factors have contributed in creating great interest from international companies specialized in construction products and machinery to take over a large part of the Saudi market.

Saudi Build Exhibition 2016 is being organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Co. Ltd., which is specialized in organizing exhibitions, conferences and other trade events. The company caters to several activities for various economic sectors. Throughout its 35 years, REC has organized more than 440 unique and successful shows and conferences renowned for their innovation, professionalism and attention to details. REC boasts an international presence, supported by over 120 commercial & industrial bodies from more than 50 countries. Regionally, REC dominates with its wide range of events programs, serving 20 economic and financial sectors in the Middle East. REC’s leading events are certified by UFI.

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The new Mercedes-Benz GLS The S-Class of SUVs

بنز

Juffali Automotive Co. (JACO) the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has recently launched the all-new SUV GLS Mercedes-Benz in the Saudi markets. Like the GL before it, the new GLS is setting standards in the world of SUV as it confirms its position as the “S-Class among SUVs”

Being the full-fledged seven-seater in the Mercedes-Benz SUV range, the GLS boasts ample spaciousness and combines luxury with impressive levels of comfort, agile dynamics and also best-in-class safety. Whether put to everyday use or venturing off the beaten track, the GLS meets all requirements effortlessly and comfortably. More power, more dynamism and more equipment are also offered by the new Mercedes- AMG GLS 63 4MATIC. With a peak output of 430 kW (585 hp), discrete suspension and the revised AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC transmission, it is the fastest seven-seater in the world.

“Effortless superiority, confidence and elegance are just some of the characteristics of the new GLS. Compared with its predecessor, the new GLS demonstrates more dominance and character. It has been thoroughly updated and features a host of further advanced detail solutions,” said Safi Kobeissi, JACO General Manager.

The result is a premium full-sized luxury SUV with seven seats, generous space and a great ride quality under all conditions, both on and off the road, he added. The GLS is the car for those who strive for perfection in everything they do. It is the car for the modern family as well as for drivers who demand space, comfort and power.

“We are confident that customers in the Saudi Arabia will love this car as much as they did its predecessor.”

A new, dynamic exterior and revised, luxurious interior clearly underscore the impressive character of the GLS. On the exterior, the focus has been placed on a redesign of the front end, while the rear has been modernized primarily in the area of the bumper and taillights. Eye-catching highlights in the interior include the newly designed instrument panel with semi-integrated Media Display, the new 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel, the modified

Center console with touchpad and also the new appointment colours and trim elements.

New exterior design and equipment lines

The new GLS reflects harmony and modern luxury to impressive effect. Chrome-look details such as the roof rails, underguard, shoulderline trim strips, luggage compartment handle and side skirt trim create attractive highlights.

Those after a sporty look can select the AMG Line exterior, comprising specific front and rear aprons, side running boards, side flaps painted in the vehicle colour and 53.3 cm (up-to 22-inch) AMG light-alloy wheels. Even more exclusivity is created with the Night package which is available in conjunction with this design and equipment line.

Accompanying the high exterior design quality is the revised interior, which underscores the first-class standards of the GLS. Like its predecessor, the new

GLS boasts ample elbow and headroom in all three seat rows.

Individual highlights can be created in the GLS interior with the help of, for example, the wood/leather multifunction steering wheel, the ambient lighting featuring three colour shades or the wide range of generously proportioned trim elements on the instrument panel and door panels with coordinated retractable cup holder covers.

In addition to ambient lighting as well as trim elements in black piano lacquer or a variety of wood trim, the optional EXCLUSIVE design and equipment line also provides five attractive interior colour concepts, exclusively in genuine leather: black, ginger beige / espresso brown, saddle brown / black, crystal grey / black or ginger beige / black.

In the case of the designo Exclusive package, the overall impression of refinement is further heightened by heated comfort seats in the front with upholstery in designo nappa leather as well as characteristic diamond quilting. A distinctively sporty note comes courtesy of the AMG Line interior.

It comprises, for the first time for the GLS, sports seats in nappa leather, a 3 spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in a black nappa leather finish, graduated instrument dials in a chequered flag look and brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs.

Maximum safety for seven passengers

The equipment level of the new GLS in the area of active safety underscores Mercedes-Benz’s high standards when it comes to taking the strain off the driver. Driver assistance systems fitted as standard include COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, Crosswind Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST, for example Other systems available as standard on the GLS also include: the PRE-SAFE® system, Brake Assist BAS, the electronic all-wheel drive traction system 4ETS, ESP® with Curve Dynamic Assist, cruise control with variable SPEEDTRONIC speed limiter and the steering assist function STEER CONTROL.

Night-time vision is improved by the optionally available LED Intelligent Light System, while adverse weather conditions resulting in impaired visibility are defused by MAGIC VISION CONTROL, the heated adaptive windscreen wiper system with purposeful, efficient water distribution.

Comprehensive stability: DYNAMIC SELECT, AIRMATIC with enhanced ADS and ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM

With DYNAMIC SELECT, the new GLS provides up to six transmission modes. In addition to the settings COMFORT, SLIPPERY and SPORT, with the DYNAMIC SELECT Controller in the centre console the driver can additionally choose INDIVIDUAL or the OFF-ROAD mode for easy terrain. If the GLS model is equipped with the optional Off-Road Engineering package, theOFF-ROAD+ mode is also available. With this, the low-range gearbox and centre differential lock also intervene if necessary in order to ensure a high degree of driveability in demanding off-road terrain. This is further boosted by the extended functions of the AIRMATIC air suspension with raised ride heights for a ground clearance of up to 306 millimetres and thus a fording depth of up to 600 millimetres.

In addition to the ground-breaking powertrain configuration, the retuned AIRMATIC air suspension with enhanced ADS damping characteristics guarantees extremely stable driving. The damping system changes its priorities depending on the preselected DYNAMIC SELECT mode. The optional active roll stabilisation ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM uses active anti-roll bars on the front and rear axle and reduces the roll angle of the body during cornering. Better driving comfort both when cornering and on straights and extended off-road capabilities are also part of the advantages of the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM.

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Arabian Oud Awards its Top Achievers At the Ritz Carlton Main Ball room

العربية للعود1

Arabian Oud Company, the world’s largest retail chain specialized in oriental perfumes, organized its annual Employees gala dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, as part of its overall strategy to enhance the team work spirit. The Gala dinner was attended by the General Manager, Mr. Abdullah Al-Doweish, Mr. Bandar Sanqoura, Human Resource Manager, Mr. Salem AL SHaer, Strategy and finance Manager, Mazen Khalil, IT Manager, in addition to senior managers, head of departments and company employees.  

The gala dinner reviewed the challenges and the achievements witnessed by the company during 2015, and Mr. Abdullah Al-Doweish praised the efforts of the awarded employees and their high performance, which is the key to fulfilling the strategic vision of Arabian Oud that sets a competitive benchmark with its high quality products.

Al- Doweish pointed out that the high performance achieved this year is the result of the incentives that were introduced during the gala dinner last year, which were based on delivering the best customer services and human resource development within the company.

The awarding ceremony was followed by a dinner and a draw on valuable prizes such as airline tickets to turkey and Sharm AL Sheikh in a friendly ambience.

It is worth mentioning that Arabian Oud, established in 1982, is the largest company operating in the oriental perfume industry. It was recently ranked first as the most selling perfume company in the MENA region, and the 11th globally as per the certified report issued by Euromonitor. Arabian Oud operates 755 stores in more than 35 countries across the world, and it is recognized as the most famous brand in the world. This was due to its proficiency and uniqueness in producing incense, oriental perfumes and aromatic oils.

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RAFAL Real Esate Development Company supported Sairec 4

سايرك

The National Real Estate committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers successfully concluded Sairec 4, the Prominent Real Estate conference that was held under the patronage of Minister of Housing, Mr. Majed AL Hogail, earlier this month at Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski, Riyadh.

The conference was conducted under the theme “The Real estate Role in the Transformation Process” and aimed to discuss the corrective actions that should be taken and the real estate laws and regulations, the public private partnerships, and their effect on the future of the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia and the economy in general.

The conference also highlighted the importance of urban planning and its role in real estate development, the individuals’ real estate mortgage and how it can stimulate development projects, the role of financial institutions and the real estate valuation in enhancing real estate investment, and the sustainable economic value in managing the Real Estate facilities.

RAFAL Real Estate Development Company, the premier residential community innovator in Saudi Arabia, were among the first who adopted the 2030 national transformation vision, who are keen to support and host economic and Real estate events such as Sairec 4 which was hosted at the Burj RAFAL Hotel Kempinski, Riyadh.

Mr. Abdulrahman Bajunaid, Managing Director, RAFAL Real Estate Development Company, said “The Real estate sector is a key pillar in the economic development process and RAFAL is here to stress this fact. This conference was conducted according the 2030 national transformation vision, and it discussed the real estate sector challenges and opportunities, the relevant governmental bodies’ efforts to support the Real estate’s regulatory and operational framework, to present an advanced model of Public Private Partnership.”

It is worth mentioning that RAFAl real estate development company was established with the objective of developing distinguished residential communities with unique lifestyle that enriches the Saudi Real Estate Sector and offers both clients and investors a real opportunity to live and invest in.

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Entrepreneur Middle East Awards Arabian Oud Best Retail Store in Saudi Arabia in 2016

الجميح

Arabian Oud Company, the world’s largest retail chain specialized in oriental perfumes, was awarded the best retail store for 2016 during the second annual KSA Enterprise Agility Awards, organized by BNC Publishing as part of the Entrepreneur MENA magazine awards, that took place on May 09, 2016 at The Four Seasons Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The awarding ceremony, which gathered entrepreneurs, CEO’s, Business men and VIP’s, along with media representatives, presented 20 awards to the winners who contributed effectively in leveraging the quality standards, developed their associated sectors and enhanced the business environment in the Kingdom and the region.

Mr. Hamad Al Toeimi, Business Development Manager, Arabian Oud Company, expressed his appreciation for being awarded the 2016 Retail Innovation Award, as it is a tribute towards the company’s efforts in developing the retail sector in Saudi Arabia, its expansion plans in the region and the world, and their endeavor in reaching out to international audience and providing them with authentic oriental perfumes, in addition to the team work spirit and the international standards which allowed Arabian Oud to  excel in the Retail Sector.

It is worth mentioning that Arabian Oud, established in 1982, is the largest company operating in the oriental perfume industry. It was recently ranked first as the most selling perfume company in the MENA region, and the 11th globally as per the certified report issued by Euromonitor. Arabian Oud operates 755 stores in more than 35 countries across the world, and it is recognized as the most famous brand in the world. This was due to its proficiency and uniqueness in producing incense, oriental perfumes and aromatic oils.

BNC Publishing is a combination of print and web mediums allows BNC Publishing to leverage several demographics and target markets across the MENA region, and launches its awards yearly to support and encourage companies and entrepreneurs in the Kingdom and the MENA, to achieve knowledge transfer among business peers who are gathered under one roof. The presence of all these leading companies at this event shown the role played by these companies and their economic contribution which leads to economic diversification and increases its productivity.

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Commercial Deals and Contracts signed at the exhibition The Saudi Health Exhibition 2016 was successfully concluded with a total of 23,000 unique visitors

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The 4th edition of the Saudi Health exhibition and Conference 2016 was successfully concluded after receiving heavy flows of decision-makers in health-related fields and healthcare professionals for three consecutive days.

The event that that took place under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Health, was organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. (REC) in cooperation with Informa.

More than 23,000 unique visitors from hospitals, medical centers and other relevant organizations, attended the exhibition, to discover the latest technologies and services in the health care field and communicate with the key players from both public and private sectors.

Moreover, professional deals and agreements were sealed on the sidelines of the Saudi Health exhibition, further confirming the success of the show in achieving its desired objectives, open new business channels and strengthen existing ones, and see the latest technologies and trends in the sector through the seminars and workshops, as reported by exhibitors who participated in the event, which was held at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The scientific and medical conference that were held in concurrence to the exhibition gathering more than 150 local and international experts, attracted more than 7,200 medical professionals who attended the conferences and received accredited hours by the Saudi Commission for health specialties.

The Saudi health Exhibition 2016 brought together the public and private sectors, and witnessed the participation of over 550 exhibitors from 42 countries and 14 international pavilions, and was sponsored by Saudi Aramco (Main Sponsor), Siemens and Dräger (platinum sponsors), and Massimo (golden sponsor) in addition to a number of strategic partners and supporting bodies.

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New VMware Research: CEOs expected to be held accountable for cyber attacks damages, yet kept in the dark over significant data breaches

في ام وير

 

  • 48 per cent of IT leaders in KSA are not revealing cyber attacks to senior leadership
  • Only eight per cent of EMEA corporate leaders consider cyber security a priority to the detriment of driving a corporate initiative to rethink IT security
  • While more than a half of businesses expect a serious cyber attack to hit their organisation in the next 90 days

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, Riyadh — VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, today announces new findings from specialist market research agency Vanson Bourne that shows over a third (40 per cent) of IT Decision Makers (ITDMs) and almost two thirds (60 per cent) of office workers in KSA, believe the CEO should be held accountable for a significant data breach. However, (48 per cent) of ITDMs admitted to not actually disclosing a significant data breach to senior management.

This lack of full disclosure indicates that those most accountable for the business do not have the full picture when it comes to the risk posed by breaches. This is also reinforced by additional research sponsored by VMware and conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit earlier this year, which revealed that, just eight per cent of EMEA corporate leaders consider cyber security a priority for their business. As cyber attacks intensify and become more damaging for organisations, including a loss of intellectual property, competitive positioning, and customer data, the potential impact of this disconnect to performance and brand is significant.

Vulnerabilities call for a new approach to security

Businesses are coming under increasing threat from serious cyber attacks, with more than a half (52 per cent) expecting to be hit in the next 90 days.  With the complexities of an increasingly digital business world, current security methods may not be keeping pace. In fact, (29 per cent) of ITDMs in KSA believe one of the greatest vulnerabilities to their organisation to a cyber attack is threats moving faster than their defences.

“The disconnect between business leaders and IT decision makers is symptomatic of the underlying challenge faced as organisations seek to push boundaries, transform and differentiate, as well as secure the business against ever-changing threats”, commented Rasheed Al Omari, Business Solutions Strategist, MENA, VMware. “Today’s most successful organisations can move and respond at speed as well as safeguard their brand and customer trust. With applications and user data on more devices in more locations than ever before, these companies have moved beyond the traditional IT security approach which may not protect the digital businesses of today.”

People and processes are as much about the problem as technology

Some of the greatest vulnerabilities to an organisation’s security stem from within the organisation, with employees who are careless or untrained in cyber security the greatest security challenge their business faces (cited by 50 per cent of ITDMs in KSA). Today’s research also reveals the steps employees are willing to take to increase productivity. Almost half (44 per cent) use their personal device to access corporate data and almost a fifth (33 per cent) would risk being in breach of the organisation’s security to carry out their job effectively.

“Security is not just about technology. As the research shows, the decisions and behaviours of people will impact the integrity of a business,” comments Joe Baguley, CTO, VMware EMEA. “However, this can’t be about lock-down or creating a culture of fear. Smart organisations are enabling, not restricting, their employees – allowing them to thrive, adapt processes and transform operations to succeed.

“Forward thinking organisations understand that the reactive security of today is no longer doing its job of protecting applications and data,” concluded Baguley. “By taking a software-defined approach to IT that ensures security is architecture in to everything, these businesses have gained the flexibility required to both secure and succeed as a digital business.”

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