Dubai: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, today announced its best-ever performance for the first half of a year, reinforcing its pivotal role in driving the future of finance and contributing to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. In the first six months of 2025, DIFC saw a record number of new firms establishing operations in the centre, bringing the total number of active registered companies to 7,700, up from 6,153 in H1 2024 – a 25 percent year-on-year increase. Additionally, 1,081 new active registered companies joined DIFC between

Beijing: China’s water conservancy authorities have announced the No. 1 flood of major rivers for 2025, occurring in the Luanhe River situated in North China’s Haihe River Basin. According to Emirates News Agency, the heavy rainfall has resulted in increased water levels in the Luanhe River. The Panjiakou Reservoir, located on the main stream of the river, reported an inflow rate of 2,270 cubic meters per second. This rate marks the first flood of the year for both the Luanhe River and all major rivers in China. Authorities have projected that the inflow rate at the Panjiakou Reservoir could reach

Wadi al helo: Issa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Antiquities Authority, affirmed that the authority’s work continues beyond the international achievement of inscribing the Jebel Faya site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. He revealed future plans to highlight the outstanding value of other prominent sites, including Wadi Al Helo in the Eastern Region and the Mleiha archaeological site in the Central Region, both of which are included on the UNESCO Tentative List. According to Emirates News Agency, Yousif explained that the successful nomination of Jebel Faya received scientific support from 13 out of the 21 countries on the World Heritage

Sharjah: Sharjah Children, an affiliate of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, has launched its summer programme ‘Summer with Us’, which takes children on a unique journey combining adventure, creativity, and learning. According to Emirates News Agency, the programme runs until 21st August and targets children aged 6 to 12 years across various centres in the Emirate of Sharjah. The programme is seeing wide participation from children due to the variety of workshops and activities offered across multiple tracks, including theatre, literature and languages, arts, life skills, sports, and science and technology, in addition to educational and

Austin: A research team at the University of Texas at Austin unveiled a non-invasive device that continuously measures hydration levels in real time and wirelessly transmits the data to a smartphone. “Dehydration is a silent threat that affects millions of people every day,” said Professor Nanshu Lu, who led the research at UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering. “Our wearable sensor provides a simple, effective way to monitor hydration levels in real time, empowering individuals to take proactive steps to stay healthy and perform at their best.” According to Emirates News Agency, the sensor uses a method called bioimpedance, which

Sharjah: An official delegation from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) visited Zanzibar Island to strengthen cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage and tourism, and exchange expertise in preserving and protecting intangible cultural heritage. The delegation was headed by Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. According to Emirates News Agency, the visit included discussions on prospects for bilateral cooperation through the implementation of cultural initiatives and training programmes, as well as documentation projects that contribute to highlighting Emirati and Zanzibar heritage on the international stage. The meeting also addressed ways to support cultural

Al dhaid: A new initiative aimed at empowering youth in the agricultural sector was launched during the 9th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival. The Sharjah Youth Council (SYC), in collaboration with the UAE Youth Entrepreneurship Council, hosted an interactive youth session under the theme ‘At the Heart of Sharjah Central Region .. Our Youth: Leadership and Growth.’ The session served as a platform to recognise agricultural innovation and enhance youth contributions to the sector’s future. According to Emirates News Agency, the event saw the attendance of prominent figures, including Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI; Mohammed Ahmed

Abu dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Dina Boluarte of the Republic of Peru on the occasion of her 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, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also sent messages to President Boluarte. Similar congratulations were extended to Prime Minister Eduardo Melchor Arana Ysa on this occasion.