Consumer price inflation in Belgium unexpectedly accelerated during July, reversing the recent trend of deceleration and exerting additional financial strain on households and businesses. Data published Thursday by the national statistical agency Statbel shows that Belgium’s annual inflation rate surpasses projections, climbing to 3.56 percent in July from 3.40 percent in June. This notable rise exceeded the 3.37 percent forecast published by the Federal Planning Bureau and was fueled by sustained increases in utility costs, recreation, and transportation expenses. The consumer price index increased by 0.63 percent month-on-month to reach 103.60 points, up from 102.95 points in June.
STARTRADER today announced the launch of 31 new US Share CFDs and ETF CFDs, available on the trading platform from August 3 and on the STARTRADER app from August 5, spanning semiconductors, AI infrastructure, optical networking, and nuclear. The new instruments will reference companies and funds across hardware, power, and connectivity infrastructure in the technology sector.
Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Oman’s deputy minister for communications and information technology, toured Kingsoft Office’s booth at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and tested the company’s latest AI agents-Lingxi Professional and WPS Comate. Both sides discussed WPS’s integrated cloud-and-device architecture, how WPS 365 could meet data-security requirements for government and enterprise clients in the Middle East, and the outlook for AI office software adoption in Oman. Dr. Al Shidhani praised Kingsoft Office’s approach to enterprise AI—keeping it under control, and putting it to real use. He said he hopes to bring WPS’s AI tools into Oman’s telecommunications sector and government digitization efforts, and to deepen digital-industry ties across the Gulf.
Over 100 countries and territories will wear custom adidas national jerseys at the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), equipping every team competing across 16 of the world’s most popular esports titles. The inaugural four-week event is set to take place starting November 2, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. National team jerseys will be revealed in the coming weeks.
“WPS Office lets me draft something faster, then finish polishing it in a few clicks. It’s far more efficient than general AI tools,” said Nasser Almandhari, a UTAS student, citing the app’s translation feature in particular. “It gives me exactly what I want, and I don’t have to constantly switch between apps to get there.”
Rather than viewing the summer break as time away from learning, Dubai has turned it into an opportunity to strengthen prevention, discipline, safety awareness and positive values among young people through Dubai Police’s Hemaya International Centre. This year, the centre’s Summer Student Programme graduated 1,402 students from 31 nationalities, bringing the total number of graduates since 2018 to 10,792 students representing 175 nationalities. The initiative is part of Dubai’s wider vision of creating a safe, resilient and future ready society by investing in young people through preventive education, practical skills and community partnerships.
During the first six months of this year, e& recorded strong growth in its consolidated revenue, reaching AED 38.1 billion, representing an increase of 11.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY). Consolidated net profit reached AED 6.0 billion, marking YoY growth of 2.4 per cent, excluding the gain on the sale of Khazna and the impact of the Maroc Telecom (MT) settlement in 2025. EBITDA in H1 2026 reached AED 17.7 billion, a YoY increase of 13.1 per cent, resulting in a strong EBITDA margin of 46.5 per cent.
Massive heatwaves elevate wildfire threats and air quality concerns in Western Europe. Across the region, extensive smoke plumes from wildfires are crossing national borders, posing significant operational hurdles for emergency services and local health agencies. The upcoming extreme temperatures in France and Spain are expected to exacerbate existing fire conditions and lead to further large-scale evacuations. Healthcare providers are implementing emergency protocols to manage elevated respiratory risks, as the extreme heat and dry conditions continue to fuel active forest fires. Leaders in emergency management are issuing urgent operational directives to strengthen containment efforts ahead of the peak heat.
“Artificial intelligence is becoming part of every nation’s critical infrastructure, and it must be built to the standards that governments and critical infrastructure operators require,” said H.E. Dr. Al-Raisi. “Alif Holding’s direction is in line with the UAE’s 2031 national agenda — engineering and manufacturing in the UAE, serving the UAE and the region, and reaching global markets. I look forward to working with the Board and the management team to build a group grounded in trust, security a”
Starbucks Corporation, a global retail coffee leader, announced its fiscal third-quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday, surpassing Wall Street consensus estimates across key profit and sales metrics. Market disclosures revealed that Starbucks shares surged as the company’s strategic initiatives to regain third place momentum begin to pay off, leading to an improved outlook for 2026 and driving share prices up by more than five percent during extended trading on the Nasdaq exchange. The Seattle-based specialty coffee retailer reported consolidated net revenues of $9.3 billion for the 13-week period ending June 28, 2026, driven by an 8.1 percent increase in North American store sales and ongoing margin improvements across core operational segments.
Dubai-based airline flydubai announced a substantial increase in its European flight offerings on Wednesday, aiming to meet the rising international travel demand by adding more frequencies to major Italian hubs. As detailed by Emirates News Agency, flydubai enhances its operations in Italy with increased flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate a twice-daily service connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport and will also boost its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
During the high-level meeting held in the Slovak capital, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing bilateral relations and building long-term economic and development partnerships. Discussions centered on leveraging emerging opportunities across industrial sectors, digital innovation, and sustainable infrastructure to create new avenues for trade and investment. The bilateral talks highlighted the strategic alignment between the United Arab Emirates and the Slovak Republic in supporting economic diversification, technology transfer, and knowledge-sharing initiatives designed to drive sustainable growth for both nations.
Hoymiles, a global leader in smart solar and storage solutions, extends its partnership with Qssun, a leading renewable energy distributor in Saudi Arabia, to accelerate PV and energy storage deployment in Kuwait and the wider Gulf region. Centering around residential, commercial, and industrial applications, this strategic collaboration builds on the success in Saudi Arabia and reinforces Hoymiles’ commitment to delivering high-performance solar energy and storage solutions in the broader Gulf region.
“The strong market response to Millad ClearX™ 9000 validates the value this technology delivers for polypropylene manufacturers,” said Wim Van De Velde, EVP and managing director for Milliken’s plastic additives business. “Dedicated capacity strengthens our ability to support customers with reliable supply while providing the flexibility needed to support continued adoption of the technology.”
Geopolitical events this year have exposed the speed at which the financial picture shifts. Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has shown how a single shock can set off repricing across energy markets, rate expectations, currencies, commodities and equities. For traders, keeping pace requires more than following headlines; it means understanding how volatility travels from one market to the next. This understanding must be grounded in credible reporting, rigorous analysis, expert insight and dependable data.
PR Newswire Expands AEO & GEO Brand Report to Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa Brand-level AI visibility intelligence empowers PR, marketing and investor relations teams to actively command their brand presence across the generative search landscape with a single end-to-end amplification platform.
Emirates, the flagship airline, has officially introduced a new cryptocurrency checkout feature on Tuesday, allowing eligible travelers to purchase flight tickets using digital currencies via its website and mobile application. An official statement from Emirates News Agency confirmed that Emirates and Crypto.com collaborate to offer customers an innovative payment option, following a strategic memorandum of understanding signed in July 2025. This digital asset payment platform is accessible to residents of the United Arab Emirates for both domestic and international flights, with transactions settled in Emirati Dirhams (AED). Payments are processed through Crypto.com’s checkout portal, providing travelers with immediate access to digital wallet funds during the flight booking process.
LG expands its 2026 premium display portfolio with next generation high-resolution monitors built for ultimate immersion. The 2026 line-up introduces three premium monitors with resolutions at or above 5K, including a massive 52-inch panoramic screen and an award-winning 39-inch OLED display. Built to meet the growing demand for high-resolution setups, these monitors offer industry-leading refresh rates and sharp visual clarity.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials have verified that the total number of infections in the current outbreak has reached 3,075, marking a significant milestone as Congo Ebola cases surpass 3,000 amid an unprecedented surge in transmission. The health ministry’s official data indicates that the epidemic has resulted in 1,354 deaths and 556 recoveries, with 755 individuals still under treatment or isolated in specialized wards. Declared on May 15, this outbreak is now the fastest-growing in recorded history, crossing 2,000 cases on July 15 and adding another thousand within less than two weeks.
Exterior view of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi entrance plaza on Saadiyat Island. (Credit – WAM) The museum’s architecture features a total of 30 indoor galleries, offering 11,600 square metres of space for exhibitions, complemented by 23,000 square metres of outdoor display zones. A central atrium links these areas, while the skyline is distinguished by ten sculptural cones, nine of which are clad in stainless steel mesh and one finished in onyx and glass. These cones, reaching heights of up to 88 metres, are more than aesthetic elements; they aid in capturing natural breezes and providing shade, employing passive cooling strategies to minimize energy use in the desert environment. The complex also includes dedicated facilities for art and technology, children’s educational spaces, archives, a research library, and a state-of-the-art conservation laboratory. Since beginning its collection efforts in 2009, the museum has steadily built an expansive permanent collection that bridges local, regional, and international artistic movements. Instead of adhering strictly to chronological order, the curated displays center around thematic narratives that explore transregional stories across different geographies, generations, and mediums from the mid-twentieth century to today. This collection highlights the historical position of the Emirates at the crossroads of global trade and cultural exchange among Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. By establishing dialogues and connections between diverse artistic voices, the museum aims to offer visitors innovative perspectives on contemporary global art history. Global Art
