Author: Editorial Team

The story of Burundian contestant Pentra Bushima Amin began when he was 14, after a Muslim friend invited him to learn about Islam and introduced him to the values, morals and virtues of the religion.  He found its teachings deeply moving and decided to embrace Islam, a decision witnessed by his family, with four of its members—including his parents and sister—also embracing Islam alongside him.  After embracing Islam, Pentra did not wait long to begin his journey with the holy Quran. He started memorizing it with strong determination and a genuine desire to learn, managing to memorize the entire Quran…

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…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 8.5 percent in June 2026 compared with the same month last year, driven by higher manufacturing prices, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Manufacturing prices rose 9 percent year-on-year, driven by a 14.4 percent increase in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, a 14.3 percent rise in wearing apparel, and a 13.2 percent increase in refined petroleum products. GASTAT’s figure showing Saudi Arabia’s Producer Price Index annual changes. Prices for the manufacture of basic metals increased 8.4 percent annually, while food products rose 4.6 percent. Elsewhere, prices for…

As the world marks International Youth Day, OMODA & JAECOO is highlighting how a new generation of intelligent mobility technologies is responding to the changing expectations of young drivers in the UAE. With AI, OMODA 4 and SIVP at the centre of its technology roadmap, the brand is bringing together intelligent interaction, assisted driving and electrified mobility to create vehicles that reflect the digital lifestyles and evolving priorities of younger consumers. OMODA & JAECOO’s global vision to “Co-Create A Beautiful Life With Young People” reflects this shift, placing young users’ expectations for intelligent technology, individuality and sustainable mobility at the…

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah affirmed that regulatory inspection tours are a key means of improving the quality of services provided to Umrah performers and pilgrims by monitoring compliance with regulatory and operational requirements, identifying and addressing shortcomings, and ensuring adherence to applicable standards.  These efforts are part of the ministry’s ongoing work to develop the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program.  The ministry said it conducts daily inspection tours at various Umrah service sites in coordination with relevant authorities.  Since the start of the 1448 AH…

LG Uplus recently improved the provision of AWS cloud services for public sector groups. This update was achieved by incorporating the set-up in its network and existing access systems. The operator stated the move provides access to an AWS cloud infrastructure brokerage through its existing support set-up for public sector organisations, meaning it can offer direct help in deploying tailored services. LG Uplus explained the approach can help customers deploy chatbots, generative AI services and search functions, and establish statistical and administrative databases. The operator believes such a system is crucial due to a surge in digital transformation projects. “LG…

MADRID — Much of Europe have enjoyed their most dramatic solar eclipse for nearly 30 years, with millions thought to have witnessed the once-in-a-generation event. Those watching the astronomical phenomenon from the UK on Wednesday were treated to a partial eclipse, which peaked shortly after 19:00 BST, when most saw more than 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon. But parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain experienced the complete darkness and spectacle of a total eclipse. The path of the total eclipse began at the northern tip of Siberia in Russia, far away from crowds and telescopes. But it…