TEHRAN — Iran’s armed forces chief on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against providing assistance to the US military amid heightened regional tensions, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations. In a post on US social media company X, Iran’s Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said countries on the southern shores of the Gulf that have publicly stated they would not allow Washington to use their territory against Iran “should know that nothing escapes our notice.” Since the start of the conflict, many Middle Eastern countries have said they would not allow the US to use…
Author: Editorial Team
BRUSSELS, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — Human-caused climate change was the main driver of recent record-breaking sea temperatures around Europe, scientists said on Wednesday, warning of severe consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Europe’s seas have not escaped the extreme heat that many countries have endured this summer. Last month, the average temperature in the Mediterranean was 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest for any July on record, while an offshore buoy near Mallorca recorded 33 C in early August. Human-caused climate change has added about 2 C of warming to the Mediterranean and around 1.4 C…
DUBAI, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — Oraseya Capital, the investment arm of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NQubator, an innovation platform for early-stage tech venture creation, to establish a strategic framework supporting the identification, development, and investment readiness of early-stage technology startups in the UAE. The MoU was signed by Hassan Waheed, Executive Vice President of Finance at DIEZ and Partner at Oraseya Capital, and Saeed Hamad Al Hamli, Founder and CEO of NQuBator, in the presence of senior representatives from both organisations. The agreement aims to strengthen alignment between structured…
Christina Aguilera’s upcoming concert in Abu Dhabi has been cancelled, according to multiple news outlets. The US pop star was scheduled to perform at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on September 25. Ticket holders were informed of the cancellation on Tuesday, August 18, according to reports. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. Ticketmaster UAE sent a notice directly to people who had purchased tickets, informing them that the concert would no longer take place. Outlets reported they had seen a message sent by the ticketing platform to a ticket buyer. Ticket holders are…
MUSCAT, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — Young people in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries outperform their global peers in several key information and communication technology skills, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-STAT). This reflects the GCC countries’ growing investment in education and youth skills development to prepare young people for technological change and future labour market needs. Government spending on education in some GCC countries reached about 17 percent in 2024, above the global average of 12.6 percent. Information and communication technology skills are becoming increasingly important…
VIENNA, 20th August, 2026 (WAM) — Austria’s Ministry for Innovation and Mobility announced that the number of private battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the country’s roads has reached a record high of 304,328. BEVs accounted for more than a quarter of all new passenger car registrations last July, reaching 27.39 percent with 7,073 units. This milestone reflects rapid growth in Austria’s electric mobility sector. While reaching 200,000 vehicles from 100,000 in September 2022 took roughly 27 months, the jump to 300,000 vehicles was achieved in just 19 months. Source: Emirates News Agency
Ericsson and Hack for Earth have launched the Ericsson Sustainability Challenge hackathon to empower youth across the Gulf region, bringing together startups, university students, innovators, and ecosystem partners to co-create solutions that support sustainable digital transformation and climate action. The hackathon is open to participants from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Through collaboration and innovation, participants will explore how connectivity and digitalization can accelerate climate action and enable a more sustainable future. The hackathon is built on Hack for Earth’s proven Dream–Hack–Build methodology, guiding participants from identifying sustainability challenges to co-creating solutions and accelerating them towards…
Real Madrid footballer Jude Bellingham is back in Dubai, and it appears he has already settled into his usual routine in the city. The England international shared a glimpse of his UAE visit with his followers on Instagram Stories on Tuesday, August 18, posting a video from a spa in Dubai. “Good morning, everyone. This is normal for me in Dubai, in the spa,” Bellingham said in the clip. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. He also shared a poolside selfie, tagging Visit Dubai and writing: “Best way to start the day!” The…
DUBAI, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Taxi Company PJSC (DTC) and its strategic partner Bolt, signed a partnership agreement with Arabia Taxi, a subsidiary of the Economic Group Holdings, to integrate the company’s fleet onto the Bolt platform, marking another milestone in DTC’s strategy to enhance smart mobility services and deliver a more seamless ride-hailing experience across Dubai. Under the agreement, Arabia Taxi’s fleet of 1,607 taxis will join the Bolt platform, expanding the pool of available vehicles while enhancing fleet utilisation and service reliability. The integration is expected to improve vehicle availability during periods of high demand, reduce…
WASHINGTON, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — The United States Department of the Treasury announced that total US national debt has surpassed the $40 trillion mark for the first time, driven by rising costs for entitlement programmes and interest payments alongside falling revenues. The Treasury’s daily statement showed total debt outstanding reached $40.047 trillion, comprising $32.266 trillion in debt held by the public and $7.782 trillion in intragovernmental holdings held by federal agencies. Source: Emirates News Agency