Abu dhabi: The BRICS technical finance meeting, which gathered deputy ministers and central bank representatives, concluded with a significant move towards establishing a multilateral financial guarantee mechanism. This initiative is set to support sustainable development projects, focusing on energy transition, renewable energy expansion, and the enhancement of resilient infrastructure. According to Emirates News Agency, Tatiana Rosito, the Secretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Finance in Brazil, explained that a joint session on COP30 climate financing was held to review the agenda developed over the past six months. A technical report has been prepared to help align the positions

Beirut: The Lebanese Health Ministry announced that one person was martyred, and six others were injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon. According to Emirates News Agency, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli airstrikes targeted the nearby town of Shaqra, Bint Jbeil, and Shebaa.

Abu dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day. According to Emirates News Agency, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, along with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also conveyed their congratulatory messages to President Tebboune on this significant occasion.

Abu dhabi: The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), M42, PureHealth, and GEMMABio Therapeutics have announced a strategic partnership to advance gene therapies for children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1). This collaboration aims to develop dedicated manufacturing and research centers within Abu Dhabi, facilitating access to clinical trials and gene therapies for patients across the MENA region. According to Emirates News Agency, the partnership was solidified during the BIO International Convention 2025 in Boston, involving senior leaders from GEMMABio and Abu Dhabi’s health and life sciences sectors. The collaboration will begin with a clinical trial to evaluate

Muscat: Oman’s economy posted a steady 2.5% growth in real GDP by the end of Q1 2025, reaching RO 9.43 billion at market prices, up from RO 9.2 billion during the same period in 2024, according to data released by Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information. According to Emirates News Agency, the uptick in GDP was largely driven by strong performance in non-oil sectors, which saw a 4.4% increase in added value, reaching RO 6.92 billion compared to RO 6.63 billion in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, oil activities saw a marginal decline of 0.4%, contributing RO 2.92 billion in Q1

Sharjah: The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) has wrapped up its Second Heritage Conference, held at the Arab Heritage Center in Sharjah University City. Over two days, the event brought together researchers, academics, and experts from more than 20 countries, both Arab and international. According to Emirates News Agency, the conference included engaging discussions about different aspects of popular heritage, featuring talks, research presentations, and workshops that covered a variety of topics related to cultural studies and documentation. During the closing ceremony, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, the Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, presented Dr. Saif Al Badwawi with

Rio de janeiro: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for an increase in intra-BRICS trade and urged the group to become a principled force grounded in equity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to shaping a more balanced and just international order. According to Emirates News Agency, Anwar criticized unilateral tariff measures and protectionist policies, expressing confidence in BRICS, which currently represents nearly 40% of the global economy, as holding vast potential to enhance trade within its informal grouping. He emphasized the group’s collective strength in engaging the world safely, fairly, and justly, negotiating on equal terms with all

Berlin: Germany has experienced a notable decrease in asylum applications during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. According to Emirates News Agency, the number of asylum applications in Germany fell significantly in the first six months of 2025 in comparison with figures from the same time period last year, Euronews reported. German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that a total of 65,495 applications were submitted between 1st January and 30th June, citing previously unpublished data from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) – a decrease of 43% year-on-year. Another media outlet, BILD, reported that only 61,300 first-time