Author: araboutlook.com

BEIJING, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – China’s digital industry generated 20.71 trillion yuan in revenue during the first half of 2026, up 13.6% from a year earlier. Total profit reached 1.79 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.3%. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the sector’s revenue growth accelerated by 4.1 percentage points from the same period last year. The industry’s profit margin reached 8.6%, up 0.7 percentage point. China’s largest digital industry centers accounted for most of the national total. The 10 leading provincial-level markets generated 17.21 trillion yuan in combined revenue, up 13.2%. They represented 83.1% of…

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / RankWire.AI / – Lionel Messi has retired from international football, closing a 21-year senior career with Argentina. The 39-year-old captain finishes as his country’s record scorer with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also holds Argentina’s record for senior international appearances. Messi led his country to the 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América championships. His retirement announcement on August 31, 2026, ends one of the most accomplished international careers in football history. Messi said he reached the decision after extensive consideration following Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final against Spain. He wrote his retirement message…

NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations warned that global efforts to end violence against children remain off track for 2030. The assessment comes 20 years after the landmark UN study on violence against children. A new progress report says conflict, displacement, climate hazards and digital abuse have widened child protection risks. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, compiled the latest assessment. The 81st UN General Assembly session will consider the report this month. The report says almost 19% of the world’s children now live in conflict zones. That compares with about 10%…

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – India and Uzbekistan elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Sunday, expanding cooperation across major economic and security sectors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the upgrade after talks at the Kuksaroy Residence in Tashkent. The leaders reviewed trade, investment, transport, digital technology, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and education. Modi visited Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 at Mirziyoyev’s invitation. Economic cooperation formed a major part of the talks. Bilateral trade reached $1.3 billion in 2025, up 33%, according to the Uzbek government. Both countries set a target…

JAKARTA, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia has expanded coordination between its investment and sports ministries to develop investment in the national sports sector. Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani and Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir signed a memorandum of understanding on August 28. The pact covers risk-based business licensing and investment development across sports-related activities. Officials cited a global sports industry worth about US$521 billion as the wider market surrounding the initiative. The agreement brings the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports on business licensing. It also covers investment promotion…

KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Flooding across Nepal and Tibet has killed at least 919 people, while 4,793 remain missing after the August 26 disaster. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the country’s toll reached 903 dead and 4,247 missing on Monday. Tibetan officials reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Gyirong County. The combined figures rose sharply from weekend counts as search teams reached more flood-hit areas and updated missing-person records. The Nepal authority said rescue teams have brought 10,451 people to safety, including 252 foreign nationals. It listed 592 foreigners among those still missing,…

BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – A moderate 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Longchang City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Friday afternoon, according to seismic data released by the China Earthquake Networks Center. The seismic event occurred at 1:13 p.m. Beijing time at a focal depth of 13 kilometers. Seismologists monitored the epicenter at 29.23 degrees north latitude and 105.22 degrees east longitude within Neijiang prefecture. Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes Longchang City in China Sichuan province as local emergency management agencies initiate preliminary impact assessments across the county level territory. Regional emergency services dispatchers confirmed that no immediate reports of casualties, injuries,…

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo / RankWire.AI / – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo launched a targeted Ebola vaccination campaign in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, in an effort to curb the country’s deadliest outbreak of the disease on record. Frontline healthcare workers, emergency response personnel, and individuals who have had direct contact with confirmed cases are being prioritized during the initial phase of the deployment. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the government initiated the immunization campaign utilizing doses of the Ervebo vaccine to safeguard frontline personnel operating across impacted eastern provinces. Official…

ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires across northeastern Algeria have killed at least 12 people and injured 54, authorities said Wednesday night. Five deaths occurred in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said. Six injured people remained in critical condition and were receiving intensive care after suffering burns. The fires spread across several provinces during a severe heatwave affecting Algeria and other parts of North Africa. Fire crews faced dozens of active blazes as authorities moved families from threatened areas near forests and residential districts. By 8 p.m. local time Wednesday, officials had…

SHARJAH, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Air Arabia will launch nonstop flights between Sharjah and Gdansk on Dec. 14, 2026. The new route will link Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport five times each week. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The service adds another direct UAE link for northern Poland and expands Air Arabia’s scheduled network in the country. Bookings for the new flights are already available through the carrier’s sales channels. On Mondays and Saturdays, flight G9 0628 will leave Sharjah at 4 p.m. and arrive in Gdansk at 8 p.m. The…