JEDDAH — Turkish Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk announced that conducting joint military exercises among Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is part of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He also unveiled plans of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to conduct joint military exercises. “The defense pact aims to boost joint military capabilities. The agreement in question is defensive in nature and does not identify any country as a common enemy or adversary,” Aktürk said while addressing the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Ankara on Thursday. Aktürk said the Turkish Armed Forces, which successfully serve in numerous regions…
Author: Editorial Team
ABU DHABI, 13th August, 2026 (WAM) — Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority (NMA), has said that the UAE views sport as an investment in people and society and as an integral part of enhancing quality of life and promoting a culture of health and physical activity. Al Hamed noted that the wise leadership has made sports a national approach that instills positive values, teamwork, and a sense of belonging and challenge. His remarks came during his participation in Abu Dhabi Summer Sports, organised by ADNEC Group and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, sponsored…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will hand over the COP presidency to Mongolia at COP17 on Monday, concluding a term marked by the launch and implementation of several international initiatives and partnerships following COP16 in Riyadh. During the conference, held from August 17 to 28, Saudi Arabia will highlight progress made during its presidency, including the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP) and the Riyadh Action Agenda, which expanded from 35 to more than 100 initiatives. It will also showcase the International Initiative for Early Warning for Sand and Dust Storms and the Business4Land initiative. The Kingdom hosted COP16 in Riyadh…
ABU DHABI, 13th August, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE is solidifying its position as a leading global hub for Islamic finance and the Halal industry through an integrated strategic ecosystem comprising legal, Shari’ah, and regulatory frameworks, as well as governance systems led by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). This approach enhances legal and Shari’ah certainty within Islamic banking and finance, supports the sector’s growth within a legislative framework, and bolsters its competitiveness and sustainable growth. The UAE Cabinet’s approved in May 2025 “The UAE Islamic Finance and Halal Industry Strategy 2025 – 2031”, aimed at diversifying the economy…
The UAE plans to expand its organ transplant programme to include procedures involving the face, hands, arms, uterus and intestine, as part of the next phase of the country’s transplant services. The Ministry of Health and Prevention said future plans under the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, known as Hayat, include widening the types of organs and tissues that can be donated and transplanted. Among the planned procedures are intestine and uterus transplants, as well as what are known as vascularised composite tissue transplants. These can involve complex body parts such as the face,…
Ericsson and Zain Jordan have announced the next phase of their longstanding and trusted partnership to modernise Zain’s Business Support Systems (BSS). This significant project will advance Zain Jordan’s digital transformation, preparing its IT infrastructure for the demands of the 5G era and modernising digital service delivery for its customers across the Kingdom. This new phase deepens the long-standing collaboration between the two companies by extending its scope to include the postpaid line of business, enabling new revenue streams across both segments. The agreement underpins Ericsson’s role as a key partner in Zain Jordan’s journey to build a flexible, scalable,…
RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has launched the New Accelerator Program for Drugs in Rare Diseases (NADR) to support the development of and access to medicines for rare diseases. Operating within the SFDA’s regulatory framework, NADR is a specialized initiative aimed at streamlining the development, evaluation, and authorization of drugs for rare diseases. The program also seeks to empower researchers and developers while advancing healthcare innovation. Through scientific and regulatory incentives, the initiative aims to accelerate patient access to critical treatments while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position among leading countries supporting research and innovative healthcare solutions. According…
PANAMA CITY — Colombia has authorized joint military operations with the United States to target drug traffickers, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, as he welcomed the country into a military-led counternarcotics coalition, expanding Washington’s campaign against cartels in Latin America. Colombia had authorized “joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks,” Hegseth told a gathering of the US-led Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama. “Yes,” he replied when asked if he had discussed with his Colombian counterpart joint strikes against armed groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), which the US designates as a terrorist group,…
At 68, Thangavelu Chandra Mohan knew that a liver transplant would be risky. However, living with his disease had become difficult too. Mohan’s condition steadily worsened since he was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in 2011. Simple activities such as walking left him exhausted, and he had become increasingly dependent on his family. By the time he reached Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, doctors found several complications. His liver was functioning poorly, fluid repeatedly accumulated in his abdomen, and he had suffered internal bleeding. Blood clots had also blocked major vessels carrying blood to the liver, while his low platelet…
SHARJAH, 13th August, 2026 (WAM) — The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) announced several achievements within its sustainable development plan to develop infrastructure in various areas of Sharjah during the first half of 2026. The authority completed the electricity connection plan for 2,497 new projects, and extended its medium- and low-voltage network by more than 167.6 kilometres. It also approved 1,072 electrical distribution panels in accordance with approved technical specifications and carried out 3,399 technical inspections of buildings and projects. SEWA issued 807 preliminary electricity inspection certificates to facilitate electricity connection procedures for customers. It also carried out…