Author: Editorial team

SEOUL, 9th August, 2026 (WAM) — The Republic of Korea’s tourism balance hit a record surplus since the COVID-19 pandemic period, industry data showed Sunday. The country’s travel account was in the black by US$596.6 million in June, marking a dramatic turnaround from the same month a year earlier when the deficit stood at $846.8 million, Yonhap News Agency quoted data from the Korea Tourism Organisation as saying. The June figure is the second highest since October 2008, when the country recorded a surplus of $661.5 million from the tourism sector. Korea’s tourism balance had continued to remain in the…

Dubai’s residential property market showed further signs of cooling in the second quarter of 2026, with both sale prices and rents declining as new supply entered the market and buyer activity slowed after several years of rapid growth.According to Cushman & Wakefield Core, city-wide residential sale prices fell 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while average rents dropped 6 per cent over the same period as the market shifted towards a more balanced phase.The consultancy said price corrections were becoming increasingly evident across most apartment and villa submarkets following five years of exceptional growth. It expects further moderation as transaction volumes remain…

Rockstar Games is giving players their next major look at Grand Theft Auto VI later this month and Netflix subscribers will see it before everyone else.Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, August 27 at 3pm ET as part of what Netflix describes as a first-of-its-kind partnership with Rockstar. For viewers in the UAE, that translates to 11pm GST on August 27.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.The presentation will initially require a Netflix subscription, but the exclusivity window is short. Rockstar says the same extended look will…

World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a setback in her US Open build-up after she was beaten 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto on Saturday.The 16th-seeded Alexandrova fought a hard battle lasting nearly two and a half hours to secure her quarter-final berth.Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open winner, recovered from a set down to force a decider but was unable to halt Alexandrova’s aggressive shot-making in the final set.The Belarusian broke early in the opening set before Alexandrova rallied to force a tiebreak, which…

DUBAI, MADRID, 9th August, 2026 (WAM) — The World Governments Summit Organisation and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) have launched a strategic partnership aimed at advancing global dialogue on the future of travel and tourism and expanding cooperation between governments and the private sector. The partnership will support the development of policies that are more responsive to global transformations and encourage joint initiatives and projects that contribute to the sector’s sustainable growth internationally. The partnership reflects a shared vision to leverage the World Governments Summit as an international platform bringing together governments, decision-makers, business leaders and experts, alongside…

Cronos offshore gas field expected to supply European markets from March 2028 through EgyptNicosia, Cyprus: Natural gas from an offshore field in Cyprus could start reaching European markets as early as March 2028, according to Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos, as Europe continues efforts to diversify energy supplies amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.Damianos said the eastern Mediterranean is emerging as an important alternative energy source for Europe, with the development of the Cronos natural gas field representing a major milestone for the region.The project moved forward after France’s TotalEnergies and Italy’s Eni took…

Authority completes a key phase of the Al Qudra Street upgrade project, with the new bridge set to boost connectivity and support communities serving more than 400,000 residents and visitors Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new four-lane bridge at the intersection of Al Qudra Street and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, marking a major milestone in the ongoing Al Qudra Street Development Project. The newly opened bridge spans 700 metres, features four lanes, and has the capacity to accommodate up to 6,000 vehicles per hour. It serves traffic travelling along Al Qudra Street…

ABU DHABI, 8th August, 2026 (WAM) – The UAE Judo Federation has announced the international ranking list for its athletes, highlighting increased opportunities to earn qualification points for the 2028 Olympic Games, while the total number of registered male and female practitioners has risen to 2,800. According to the federation’s report, Mohammed Bek currently tops the under-73kg ranking with 3,863 points, following his gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam in the 2025–2026 season, a silver medal at the Asian Championships in China, and a bronze at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2025. In the women’s category, Eliza Letif leads…

SHARJAH, 9th August, 2026 (WAM) — Khorfakkan Port, affiliated with the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, is set to receive a large RoRo vessel carrying 6,068 new energy vehicles produced by Chinese automaker BYD. The vessel departed from Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenzhen, China, marking the launch of a direct maritime shipping route between the two sides. The new route offers a strategic logistics solution for Chinese exports to the UAE and the wider Middle East, cutting maritime transit time between the two countries by three to five days and reducing potential disruptions in the shipment of…

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said it commissioned 793 new 11kV substations across the emirate during the first half (H1) of 2026 as it expands its urban infrastructure.The construction and associated works involved 624,340 man-hours, all completed under stringent quality, efficiency and safety standards, DEWA said.Substations are facilities that help distribute electricity by stepping voltage levels up or down so power can be transmitted efficiently over long distances and delivered safely to homes and businesses.The authority now has around 53 33 kV substations and 47,723 medium voltage (11 kV and 6.6 kV) substations in service, the Executive Vice President…