BANGKOK — Two boats carrying carrying an estimated 530 Rohingya asylum seekers are feared to have capsized off the coast of Myanmar, United Nations agencies have said. The boats left Myanmar in late June and have not been heard from since. According to preliminary information reported on Thursday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the two vessels departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State on June 29 carrying mostly Rohingya passengers. One boat, believed to have been carrying about 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure. A second boat, reportedly carrying some 280 people, is…
Author: Editorial Team
ALMATY, 17th July, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, made a strong start to the 10th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship by winning nine medals in the men’s competition, including three gold, five silver and one bronze, on the opening day at Almaty Arena, where the championship continues until 19th July. The adults’ competition is the highest level of jiu-jitsu in Asia and provides an important test for the UAE against the continent’s strongest athletes. The UAE entered the championship as defending champions after topping the standings at the ninth edition in Amman, Jordan, with…
New flagship series combines 5.5G connectivity, advanced imaging and all-scenario smart experiences Dubai — Huawei has unveiled its new HUAWEI Pura 90s Series at its Flagship Product Global Launch Event held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai. The latest flagship smartphone series introduces ultra-fast 5.5G connectivity and an upgraded imaging system, highlighting how next-generation smartphones and advanced intelligent networks can deliver faster, smoother, and more reliable mobile experiences in the UAE. Huawei also announced the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 Special Edition and the HUAWEI MatePad Air, expanding its all-scenario ecosystem with products designed to support photography, creativity, productivity, and…
NEW YORK — Heavy smoke from more than 800 wildfires burning across Canada enveloped a swath of the US from the Midwest to the Northeast on Thursday. A thick blanket of smoke clouded skylines from Detroit and Toronto to New York and across New England, prompting authorities to issue “hazardous” air quality alerts across much of the region. Many outdoor events were canceled and officials said residents should stay indoors wherever possible and avoid the acrid, unhealthy air. Detroit registered the worst air quality of any city in the world on Thursday, according to monitoring company IQAir, with a pollutant…
ABU DHABI, 17th July, 2026 (WAM) — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has reinforced its position as the highest-rated banking group in the MENA region and among the highest-rated globally, with AA- or equivalent ratings and stable outlooks following the latest affirmations by Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. Together, these ratings place FAB at the top end of global bank credit quality underpinned by strong standalone fundamentals, disciplined risk management and systemic importance within the UAE banking sector. The latest affirmations come amid evolving regional developments, highlighting the resilience of FAB’s financial profile and its consistent strength across…
Two months after Swatch launched its hit collaboration with Audemars Piguet, called the ‘Royal Pop’, the watchmaker is launching another collaboration with Swiss Omega. The collection called ‘MoonSwatch’ draws heavy inspiration from the iconic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch but is available at a fraction of the price. The watches measure 42mm in diameter and are 13mm thick, use Super-LumiNova on the indexes and hands — similar to the Omega Speedmaster — and run on a quartz ETA G10.212 movement. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. They’re also made from Bioceramic, a composite material developed…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia welcomed Jordan’s initiative to launch regular commercial flights between Amman and Sanaa, describing it as a humanitarian step that will help meet the needs of the Yemeni people and facilitate civilian travel. In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Yemeni government’s approval of the initiative, saying it reflects its commitment to easing procedures that serve Yemeni citizens and support efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering. The Kingdom called on the Houthis to respond positively to the initiative instead of repeating past actions that increased the suffering of the Yemeni people, urging it…
Pakistani nationals in the UAE will receive an e-passport the next time they get their travel document renewed, the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi said on July 17. The move is being made in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. This comes just a month after local authorities in Pakistan announced the phasing out of Machine-Readable passports. The statement from the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi clearly stated, “all passport applications from July 20, 2026 shall be processed by the Embassy of Pakistan, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai only in the e-Passport…
TEL AVIV — Israel’s parliament has officially dissolved, kicking off a high-stakes campaign for national elections on October 27. The dissolution of the 25th Knesset on Friday paves the way for a vote that is seen as a critical referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival and his wars on Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Before adjourning into recess, Netanyahu’s hardline coalition, the most nationalist in Israel’s history, also pushed through a series of controversial laws to secure its base as the Knesset held a final marathon overnight voting session. Among the legislation passed, according to state broadcaster Kan, was…
Vlad Loktev, Chief Creator Ecosystem Officer at Roblox. New mobile-first creation tab will allow users to create, test and publish basic games directly within the Roblox app San Mateo, California: Roblox Corporation has announced Build, a new mobile-first creation tab within the Roblox app, along with a suite of AI-powered tools designed for creators of all experience levels. Build will allow users to turn a simple text prompt into a basic playable game directly inside the Roblox app. For example, a creator could describe a cosy adventure game set in a dense forest with environmental obstacles, and Build would generate…