COVID-19: Tunisia researchers use AI, X-rays to create online virus scan tool

Tunisian engineers have created a web-based platform that scans lung X-rays and evaluates whether patients are likely to be suffering from the novel coronavirus. While it’s not the first initiative of its kind in the world, its creators say it is the first to be openly available. And though not a diagnostic tool, the technology provides a “90%” reliable indication of the probability of infection, they add. Teachers and students at the Tunisian engineering and technology institute INSAT have been developing the platform — Covid-19 Exam Ct/XR images by AI…

Remittances to MENA in 2020 to fall 19.6% due to COVID-19: WB

Remittances to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are expected to fall 19.6% to $47bn in 2020 following the 2.6% growth achieved in 2019, according to a recent World Bank (WB) report. The report, entitled, “Migration and Development Brief: COVID-19 crisis through a migration lens”, said the decline is the result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting shutdown. The anticipated decline comes on the back of the global slowdown and lower oil prices in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the report said. It added that all…