RIYADH: Saudi Arabia retained the top global ranking in the 2026 Information and Communication Technology Development Index with a score of 99.8 out of 100, driven by continued investment in digital infrastructure and connectivity. The Kingdom ranked first globally for the second consecutive year i»»»

A group of families who have suffered serious health problems because of exposure to pesticides urged EU lawmakers not to row back on safety standards for pesticides in the bloc’s latest move towards light-touch regulation. “Alternatives exist…we need a European policy that is coherent…and to put p»»»

Dubai: As school holidays begin and residents across the UAE gear up for summer plans, Big Ticket is adding a major dose of excitement to the season with its July promotion, featuring life-changing cash prizes, luxury cars, and multiple chances to win every week. The highlight of this month’s campa»»»

The India government is considering issuing a notice to Meta over WhatsApp's upcoming username feature, amid concerns that it could be misused for fraud and impersonation, according to media reports citing government sources. The feature, which is yet to be rolled out widely, will allow WhatsApp us»»»

The Council of Ministers approved amendments to an investment project for the acquisition of major combat equipment for the establishment of battalion-sized battlegroups within a mechanized infantry brigade, which was approved by the National Assembly in November 2023, the government's press servic»»»

At its regular meeting, the government approved the 2026–2028 Public Debt Management Strategy, under which outstanding debt due for refinancing amounts to EUR 1.41 billion in 2026, EUR 1.8 billion in 2027, and EUR 2.6 billion in 2028, the government information service said on Wednesday. The remain»»»

Dubai: Armenia has extended its temporary visa waiver programme for UAE residents and citizens of several Gulf countries until July 1, 2027, state news agency Armenpress reported. Armenia implemented a full visa-free entry regime specifically tailored to citizens and residents of the GCC region las»»»

PARIS: Marking its first participation at Vision Golfe, Saudi Arabia’s Athar festival is making its international ambitions clear. The event is looking to engage new partners, speakers and international visitors as it continues to expand and elevate the global profile of Saudi Arabia’s creative eco»»»

RIYADH: Qatar attracted $3.4 billion in foreign direct investment project capital expenditure across 373 initiatives in 2025, generating 15,051 jobs, according to the agency responsible for promoting opportunities in the country. More than half of the total FDI capital expenditure was directed towa»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran has been "fine" when it comes to meeting the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached with Washington. "Well, I think they've come a long way. We hit them very hard last week. I think they're fine," Trump told report»»»

DUBAI: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday defended a US-backed framework agreement with Israel, saying it reinforced state authority and protected Lebanon’s rights after years of conflict. Speaking during a meeting with delegations from the Beirut and North Lebanon Bar Associations and eco»»»

Dubai: For Kamaludeen Anvarsha, a 45-year-old Kerala entrepreneur based in Oman, an ordinary day turned memorable when a phone call delivered unexpected news, he has won Dh25,000 in the Big Ticket e-draw. Anvarsha, who has been living in Oman for the past 24 years while his family remains in India,»»»

Lahore, Pakistan: Pakistani mourners shouldered bedframes in a procession through the narrow streets of Lahore's Kahna area on Wednesday as they carried the bodies of 14 children killed when the roof of their tutoring centre collapsed the night before. Residents and families gathered by freshly dug»»»

Dubai: DAMAC Properties said its construction pipeline has avoided any major hit from recent supply chain pressure, helped by the UAE’s port and logistics response, as the developer topped out its Dh243 million Harbour Lights tower in Dubai Maritime City on Tuesday. Sign up for our daily business n»»»

US President Donald Trump recorded around $1.2 billion in income from his family's cryptocurrency activities during his first year back in office. Trump's crypto activities are the main driver of the tripling of the president's fortune since 2024, which went from over $2 billions to over $6 billion»»»

Didier Deschamps' side impressed once again as they raced past Sweden 3-0 and will face Paraguay next. Michael Olise provide two assists and is now just one short of equaling Pelé's record in a single World Cup. Meanwhile Mexico recorded their fourth clean sheet and are the only side not to have le»»»

Brazil have advanced to the World Cup round of 16, despite many experts predicting that Japan would defeat the Seleção. The football-mad South American nation has lost some of its lustre since the team's dramatic 7-1 loss to Germany in 2014 on home soil – a World Cup that traumatised an entire»»»

DOHA: In recent years, cultural institutions around the world have accelerated efforts to digitize their collections. Manuscripts, maps, photographs and rare books — once accessible only to a handful of researchers — are now available to global audiences at the click of a button. Digitization has t»»»

CAIRO: A cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed 120 people, with another 1,102 suspected cases since May in isolated war zones, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. More than three years of war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have decimated the country’s »»»

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s government ended a state of emergency it declared after a cyclone that killed 643 people eight months ago, a minister said on Wednesday. The extraordinary powers allowed the deployment of troops to carry out relief operations and had been extended monthly since Cyclone Ditwah h»»»

DUBAI: A man charged with the attempted murder of five people after a car struck pedestrians in west London is due to appear at the Central Criminal Court later this month. Ahmed Timir, 34, of Grange Park, Ealing, appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on June 29 charged with five counts of attem»»»

ANTWERP: At least five people were killed and many others injured on Wednesday in a fire at an apartment block in the Belgian city of Antwerp, police said. The blaze broke out mid-morning on the eighth floor of the building, where more than 200 people live, in the city’s Linkeroever neighborhood, s»»»

NEW DELHI: India’s capital New Delhi will ban new petrol- and diesel-fueled scooters and rickshaws from its roads over the next two years, as an ambitious new policy aimed at bringing down dangerously high pollution levels in the city came into effect on Wednesday. Delhi’s new EV policy seeks to ac»»»

BUCHAREST: A powerful storm struck Romania ‘s capital overnight into Wednesday, killing one person and causing flooding in 20 counties following an intense heatwave. The torrential storm hit 60 localities, and emergency services pumped water from more than 350 houses and 100 streets, according to t»»»

Israeli forces will remain in so-called security zones established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any timeline for withdrawal, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday. In Qatar, an Iranian team holds talks with mediators but Iranian officials denied a claim by President Donald Trum»»»