Author: Editorial team

SEJONG, 31st August, 2026 (WAM) — The Republic of Korea’s industrial output remained flat in July from a month earlier due to a base effect and a strike in the automobile industry, data showed Monday, while retail sales lost ground and facility investment advanced. Industrial production remained unchanged in July from a month earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Industrial output fell 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent in April and May, respectively, before rebounding 2.4 percent in June. Output in the mining and manufacturing sector, a key pillar of the economy, edged up 0.2 percent…

The Dubai-based developer Binghatti has pushed back against concerns raised by rating agencies over its cash position and its ability to meet upcoming debt maturities, including a $500 million sukuk due in February 2027.Speaking to Bloomberg, Muhammad BinGhatti, chairman of Binghatti Holding, said rating agencies only provide a “snapshot” of a company’s financial position at a given point in time, and that real estate remained a “cash volatile business” given the timing of project handovers and land acquisitions.“Since June, since our figures were published, we’ve handed over three projects worth Dh1.8 billion. These projects were more than 90 per cent…

Queen Rania Al Abdullah marked her birthday with a family moment, sharing a photograph surrounded by her grandchildren.The Jordanian royal, who turned 56 on August 31, posted the photograph on Instagram, showing her holding two of her youngest grandchildren as the older children gathered around her.“Spending my birthday in the best way imaginable. Love you, my favorite little girls,” she wrote alongside the post.She also shared an Arabic message that read: “The sweetest birthday with my beloved Iman, Amina, Talia and Rania, may God protect them all.”Queen Rania is pictured cradling Princess Iman’s daughter Amina and Princess Rajwa’s daughter Rania,…

Having emerged from Rohtak, a small town in Haryana not known to produce international cricketers, Shafali Verma has become a trailblazer for women’s cricket in the northern Indian state.The Rohtak district does have a long history of producing elite wrestlers, including the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik.But cricket, especially women’s cricket, struggled to gain a foothold until Verma emerged as a precocious teenager.Now that she has established herself as one of the finest batters in the global game despite emerging from the cricketing backwaters of India, Verma understands what it feels like for cricketers to rise against the odds.On…

ABU DHABI, 31st August, 2026 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED) arm to develop and regulate the business sector, has revealed continued strong growth in new economic licences issued to Emirati businesswomen and entrepreneurs, underscoring the success of initiatives and policies to empower women and increase their positive contribution to socio-economic development. ADRA reported that 3,058 new economic licences were issued to Emirati female entrepreneurs and businesswomen during the first half of 2026 (January to June), representing 6.4% rise compared with 2,873 licences issued during the corresponding period in 2025.…

The UAE’s drive to become a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub is moving beyond traditional medicines, with local producers investing in complex generics and biosimilars as the country seeks greater healthcare resilience and economic diversification. Industry executives say the next phase of growth will depend on advanced scientific, regulatory and manufacturing capabilities, enabling the UAE to produce more sophisticated therapies while reducing dependence on imports.“The industry is moving toward more complex, higher-value therapies, which favours manufacturers with strong technical, scientific and regulatory capabilities,” said Dr Fokion Sinis, chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based ADCAN Pharma. “That is the space in which we…

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has announced that he is set to feature in his 555th film. The actor shared a poster on Instagram on Tuesday announcing his “landmark 555th film”. However, he did not reveal the title, cast or any other details about the project, asking fans to wait for the right time.Sharing the announcement, Kher wrote that he had been keeping the news to himself for some time and wanted to reveal it only when the time was right. “ANNOUNCEMENT!! Some things are better kept close to the heart for a little while!! Because the joy of revealing them…

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz won his first singles match in 139 days, while Aryna Sabalenka got her quest for a third successive US. Open title off to a winning start on Monday on the second day of the year’s final major.One of the tournament’s biggest question marks, Alcaraz enjoyed a comfortable return to action with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Russian Roman Safiullin, quieting concerns – for now – over an injury to his right wrist that had sidelined him since April.The win ensured some star power remained in the men’s field after Novak Djokovic’s shock defeat on Sunday…

ABU DHABI, 31st August, 2026 (WAM) — Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) celebrates Emirati Women’s Day 2026 by recognising the pivotal role Emirati women play in advancing the Fund’s development mandate and shaping its future. The occasion underscores ADFD’s continued commitment to empowering national talent, fostering an inclusive and enabling workplace, and supporting Emirati women to take on greater leadership roles and contribute to the UAE’s sustainable development journey. Held this year under the theme “We Emerge Stronger and Better”, Emirati Women’s Day celebrates the UAE’s progress in empowering women to contribute to the country’s future. At ADFD, Emirati…

John Ternus takes over as Apple’s chief executive on Tuesday, inheriting a company that towers over the smartphone market but trails its rivals in artificial intelligence.One of his biggest challenges will be balancing the company’s dependence on China while parrying acute political pressure from the White House.The handover ends Tim Cook’s 15-year run, replacing the operations specialist who built Apple’s supply chain with the engineer who built its hardware. Ternus, 51, joined Apple’s design team in 2001 and worked his way up to senior vice president of hardware engineering, reporting to Cook. He leads the engineering teams behind Apple’s entire product lineup,…