A weekend can feel surprisingly long when you’re surrounded by mountains, turquoise waters and winding coastal roads. With Oman announcing a new free 14-day tourist visa for eligible travellers, there’s never been a better time for UAE residents to swap skyscrapers for dramatic landscapes and quiet villages. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation or simply a change of scenery, Oman offers all three within a few hours’ drive from the UAE. From ancient forts and mountain viewpoints to crystal-clear wadis and freshly grilled seafood, here’s how to make the most of a 48-hour escape. Before you hit the road Before…
Author: Editorial Team
TOKYO, 5th August, 2026 (WAM) — Japan’s Nikkei share average rose more than three percent on Wednesday as AI-related stocks jumped to track their US peers, and investors scooped up stocks with a strong outlook. The Nikkei was up 3.16 percent to 65,979.02 as of 0101 GMT, while the broader Topix rose 1.52 percent to 4,022.18. Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest and chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron rose 8 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Of more than 1,500 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s prime market, 67 percent rose, 29 percent fell and 3 percent traded flat. Source: Emirates News…
Dubai has become home to The Pediatric Academy, a new international education institution created to advance knowledge-sharing among healthcare professionals and give parents better access to understandable, evidence-informed information about their children’s health and development. Founded by pediatric dentist, author and international speaker Dr. Rafif Tayara, The Pediatric Academy brings together education on pediatric dentistry, airway health, sleep-disordered breathing, oral function, early facial growth, interceptive orthodontics and myofunctional therapy. The institution combines a global online education platform with in-person professional training at its Dubai training location at Jumeira Street The Academy’s initial programs focus on an area of children’s healthcare…
CHICAGO — A former attorney has testified that the United States is wrongfully relying on Israeli “convictions” several decades ago in ongoing its efforts to deport Salah Sarsour, the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque. Jawad Boulos represented Sarsour in Israeli military court in the 1990s. Israeli authorities coerced Sarsour into confessing to crimes but never succeeded in tying him to a terrorist organization, Boulos testified on Tuesday in immigration court, where the Palestinian is fighting a Trump administration effort to deport him. Sarsour, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at…
ABU DHABI, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency, has attended part of the Ju-Jitsu World Championship 2026 competitions, hosted at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of elite male and female jiu-jitsu athletes from around the world. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad followed several under-18 bouts, which featured strong competitive performances by emerging talents from different countries, reflecting the prominent position the championship holds on the global jiu-jitsu calendar. Sheikh Zayed also took part in the award ceremony for athletes who secured top positions across several weight categories,…
LOS ANGELES — Authorities in California have arrested a man who was seen near a golf course owned by President Donald Trump in the Los Angeles area, ahead of the president’s visit for a fundraising dinner there. Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, California, was arrested Sunday after plainclothes agents spotted him walking Trump National Golf Club golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes taking photographs and videos, Fox News reported. During a pat-down, deputies allegedly recovered a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition from Taele’s pants pocket, the report said. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said he was “observed walking…
SHARJAH, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) discussed ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with the Dominican Republic, encouraging the business communities of both countries to develop strategic partnerships across diverse investment fields. Discussions also focused on boosting bilateral trade and mutual economic growth, while highlighting the importance of coordinating reciprocal trade and investment delegation visits as a step towards direct business-to-business engagement and stronger institutional collaboration between companies and economic institutions in both markets. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, received Renso Herrera Franco, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to…
ROME — Child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces and the situation is expected to worsen as funding shortages force cuts in food aid and other support, according to the UN World Food Program. The agency said nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, along with 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women. It warned that the crisis is deepening at a time when the annual peak season for malnutrition runs from July to October. “We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths, which this crisis…
WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran could reach an agreement by Tuesday or Wednesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday. “We are in talks with the Iranians,” Bessent told CNBC. “There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.” Asked whether Iran would be permitted to charge transit fees, Bessent said the proposed agreement would guarantee freedom of movement through the strategic waterway. “It would be…
Counterpoint Research has recently revealed that global smartphone revenue rose 7% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to an historic $109 billion. This revenue makes for the highest second-quarter total on record even as shipments declined. The disconnect between rising revenue and falling volumes was driven by average selling prices (ASPs), which rose 17% to a record high of $400, fuelled by sustained demand for premium devices and memory-driven price hikes across Android portfolios. Apple was the standout performer, with revenue up 22% to the brand’s highest-ever Q2 total. The growth was supported by a 13% rise in shipments alongside an 8%…