ROME — Child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces and the situation is expected to worsen as funding shortages force cuts in food aid and other support, according to the UN World Food Program. The agency said nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, along with 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women. It warned that the crisis is deepening at a time when the annual peak season for malnutrition runs from July to October. “We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths, which this crisis…
Author: Editorial Team
WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran could reach an agreement by Tuesday or Wednesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday. “We are in talks with the Iranians,” Bessent told CNBC. “There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.” Asked whether Iran would be permitted to charge transit fees, Bessent said the proposed agreement would guarantee freedom of movement through the strategic waterway. “It would be…
Counterpoint Research has recently revealed that global smartphone revenue rose 7% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to an historic $109 billion. This revenue makes for the highest second-quarter total on record even as shipments declined. The disconnect between rising revenue and falling volumes was driven by average selling prices (ASPs), which rose 17% to a record high of $400, fuelled by sustained demand for premium devices and memory-driven price hikes across Android portfolios. Apple was the standout performer, with revenue up 22% to the brand’s highest-ever Q2 total. The growth was supported by a 13% rise in shipments alongside an 8%…
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has made a range of digital services available through its website, enabling visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque to plan their visits in advance and access these services, thereby enhancing the visitor experience and improving the quality of digital services. The available services include an interactive map of the Prophet’s Mosque and prayer area occupancy status, allowing visitors to access information and services before and during their visit. The interactive map provides updated information about the Prophet’s Mosque facilities and service locations, helping visitors…
JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers has approved a framework allowing investors to develop planned land and construct housing units for beneficiaries of developmental housing programs in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the land. During its session held in Jeddah on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Cabinet also approved a one-year extension of the deadline for rectifying undocumented real estate transactions. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on his telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump, during which they discussed developments in the region…
RIYADH — A royal decree has been issued approving the appointment of members to Saudi Arabia’s 13 Regional Councils for their eighth term, which will span four years. The regional councils of Riyadh, Makkah, and Madinah each comprise 20 members, while the councils of Jazan, Eastern Province, Al-Qassim, Asir, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Northern Borders Region, Al-Jouf, and Najran each have 15 members. Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for issuing the royal decree approving the appointment…
RIYADH — Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser warned that the impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis was not limited to global oil supplies but also extended to global food security. He described the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the largest oil supply shock in history. “Global markets had lost more than 2.6 billion barrels of supplies since the crisis began,” he said on Tuesday while speaking to Al-Arabiya Business following the release of the company’s quarterly results. Al-Nasser said that Saudi Aramco continued its strong financial and operational momentum in the second half of the…
The urban design sector within the Quality of Life Program recorded significant progress during 2025, with improved urban indicators and strategic initiatives enhancing the urban landscape across Saudi cities. Key among these initiatives was the launch of the Saudi Architecture Map by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, featuring 19 architectural styles inspired by Saudi Arabia’s geographical and cultural characteristics. The map is expected to contribute over SAR8 billion to cumulative GDP and generate more than 34,000 job opportunities by 2030. Urban indicators showed notable improvement across several measures. Citizen…
Rakuten Group has recently taken steps to advance an existing online medical and pharmacy service by collaborating with technology company J Frontier. The pair intend to align to deliver online medical consultations and guidance on medications, a move which would build on the services provided by the Rakuten Healthcare Yoyakusuri app. Rakuten stated the app currently provides pharmacy reservation and medical record services across Japan. It is bringing online consultation and guidance services J Frontier provides in its own app into the mix. The initial integration means users of the J Frontier app can pick a Yoyakusuri Pharmacy for collection…
MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved the results of its evaluation of companies providing services to international pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season. This was part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance services, improve quality, and strengthen transparency in assessing the performance of service providers, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program. The ministry said the evaluation covered companies contracted by pilgrim affairs offices, companies contracted by affiliated organizers, and companies operating under the direct Hajj model. Companies in each category were classified into three tiers based on…