SHARJAH, 20th August, 2026 (WAM) — Dr. Hussein Al Askar, Director of the Customer Service Department at the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA), said the authority has reached a significant milestone in its three-year digital transformation journey, achieving 100 percent digital transformation across its key customer services. Between 9th August 2023 and 9th August 2026, SEWA completed 720,037 digital transactions via its Customer Service Department’s digital platform. These included 265,028 transactions for starting services and opening new accounts, 198,971 account-closure transactions and 256,038 general requests. Al Askar said the figures demonstrate a major transformation in service delivery, extending…
Author: Editorial Team
DUBAI, 20th August, 2026 (WAM) — Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has unveiled a limited release of 44 beachfront villas from its Beach & Coral Collections, spanning 10 distinct architectural designs on Frond F at Palm Jebel Ali. The release represents one of the final opportunities to own a new beachfront villa on the destination’s fronds. Designed in collaboration with internationally recognised studios NAGA Architects, SAOTA, LW Design Group and LOCI Architecture, the villas balance expansive interiors, natural light and seamless indoor-outdoor living with privacy and a close connection to their individual shoreline settings. The Beach Collection…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Operating Revenues Index increased 6.1 percent year-on-year in June 2026, while the number of issued building permits jumped 20.3 percent, according to preliminary results from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The annual increase in operating revenues was supported by growth of 16.9 percent in manufacturing activities as well as in financial and insurance activities. Transportation and storage activities recorded an 18.4 percent annual increase, while real estate activities rose 15 percent and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply increased 14.9 percent. Other annual increases included 5.4 percent in information and communication activities, 4 percent…
LG Electronics is working to provide 5G telematics to European vehicle manufacturers with a set-up employing the latest 3GPP specifications. The key takeaway is LG’s latest system is faster, tapping the capabilities of Release-16 specifications to make data transmission more reliable and less prone to delay than equipment running the 3GPP’s previous iteration of 5G standards. LG booked a 100-fold improvement in reliability and a fivefold gain in the rate data is transmitted between a telematics module and base station. Aside from its claim to being the first company providing such a system in Europe, LG stated there would be…
SYDNEY — Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged on Thursday that it was a “difficult time” in the country’s relationship with Israel after its decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the killing of aid workers. Wong said she was “outraged” over an Israeli military decision not to launch a criminal investigation into the death of aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed in an air strike in Gaza. Frankcom was an Australian aid worker with World Central Kitchen (WCK) who was killed with six other colleagues in an Israeli attack in April 2024. Wong said in a statement…
WASHINGTON, 19th August, 2026 (WAM) — US company OpenAI has announced the launch of a specialised version of its popular app—dubbed “ChatGPT for Teens”—amid growing concerns among researchers and parents regarding teenagers’ emotional reliance on chatbots. ”We’re introducing ChatGPT for Teens, an experience designed to help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence. It provides stronger built-in safety protections for teens, including features to promote healthy use and additional controls for parents. If our system estimates someone is under 18 or they state their age is between 13 and 17, they are automatically placed into ChatGPT…
TOKYO, 20th August, 2026 (WAM) — Japan’s imports hit a monthly record in July as elevated oil prices drove up energy costs and inflationary pressures, while exports also climbed to an all-time high on a weaker yen and robust semiconductor-related demand. Total imports by value grew 27.8 percent from a year earlier to 12.1 trillion yen ($76.39 billion), data showed on Thursday, hitting a fresh record for the second straight month and exceeding market forecasts for a 26.5 percent increase. Crude oil import volumes rose 5.5 percent from a year before, the first increase in four months, while the total…
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…
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…