Author: gulf-daily.com

SANTA FE, Mexico / RankWire.AI / – A New Mexico state court ordered social media giant Meta on Thursday to pay $567 million into a dedicated youth mental health fund after ruling that the company’s platforms constituted a public nuisance. Presiding Judge Bryan Biedscheid of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe delivered the decision following a three-week bench trial. The court concluded that Facebook and Instagram contributed significantly to a youth mental health crisis and failed to protect minors from online harm and exploitation. The latest financial order follows a separate $375 million jury award issued against the…

BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Data published by Belgian public health institute Sciensano revealed that obesity was linked to 9,509 deaths in Belgium during 2022, representing 8.2 percent of all national mortality recorded that year. The official report marks the first time public health researchers in the country have systematically quantified mortality directly attributable to an excessively high body mass index across the population. Statistical calculations indicate that weight-related complications resulted in more than one death every hour nationwide, while accounting for over 150,000 lost years of life across all demographics. The comprehensive epidemiological investigation examined underlying causes of death…

BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 4.9 earthquake hits southwestern China on Friday, striking Gao County in Yibin City within Sichuan province. According to official measurements published by the China Earthquake Networks Center, the seismic event occurred at 1:08 p.m. local time at a shallow focal depth of six kilometers. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed that one person was killed after being struck by a collapsing exterior wall while attempting to seek safety during the tremors. In addition to the single confirmed fatality, local government authorities reported that six individuals sustained minor injuries across affected residential areas. Emergency assessments conducted…

BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – The European Commission finalized a major expansion of the European Union’s flagship orbital communications network on Friday, concluding months of commercial negotiations with the SpaceRISE industrial consortium. Under a newly signed implementation agreement, the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) program transitions from planning into full-scale industrial deployment. The formal agreement expands the planned satellite network to 348 spacecraft to strengthen sovereign connectivity, defense, and emergency response capabilities across member states. Under the terms of the revised agreement, the main satellite constellation will grow from 282 planned orbital units to 348 active…

DUBAI, UAE / MENA Newswire / – Restaurant operator Papa Johns announced a major commercial partnership on Wednesday as Papa Johns teams up with Disney and Pixar for the release of Toy Story 5 across global markets. The promotional initiative marks the first time in the history of the animated film franchise that a major pizza delivery brand has secured an official partnership for a theatrical movie release. Designed to align with the upcoming worldwide premiere of the film on June 19, the joint campaign introduces specialized menu offerings, limited-edition merchandise drops, immersive experiential pop-up locations, and custom animation created…

BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – China introduced new countermeasures against the United States on Wednesday, tightening controls on drone-related exports and restricting business with seven American entities. The measures took effect on August 5. China’s Ministry of Commerce said exporters must obtain approval for controlled drones, major components and related technologies bound for the United States. The order does not halt every Chinese drone shipment. It places covered products under stricter case-by-case review within China’s existing dual-use export system. Exporters can no longer use simplified licensing procedures for covered shipments to the American market. Chinese authorities will examine each product,…

NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has launched an early-stage trial of a vaccine for Bundibugyo ebolavirus as an outbreak grows in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A volunteer received the first dose of the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 in Truro, Nova Scotia. The study marks the vaccine’s first use in humans. The World Health Organization has declared the Congolese outbreak an international public health emergency. The Phase 1 study will enroll about 80 healthy adults at three locations in Canada. Researchers will examine the vaccine’s safety, tolerability and ability to trigger an immune response. The…

SINGAPORE / RankWire.AI / – Oil prices fell further on Wednesday after a steep two-day selloff pushed Brent and U.S. crude to three-week lows. Brent crude futures dropped 92 cents, or 1.2%, to $78.44 a barrel by 3:30 a.m. GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude lost $1.07, or 1.4%, to trade at $74.70. Brent had declined more than 12% during the week, while WTI had fallen over 11%. The renewed losses followed Tuesday’s sharp retreat across global energy markets. Brent settled 5.3% lower at $79.36 a barrel, marking its first close below $80 since July 13. WTI ended the session down…

PARIS / RankWire.AI / – Annual inflation across OECD economies slowed to 4.2% in June 2026 from 4.6% in May. The decline ended three consecutive months of rising headline inflation. Consumer price growth eased in 20 member countries and increased in six. Inflation remained stable or broadly stable in 12 economies. Nine OECD countries reported rates of 2% or less, including three where inflation stayed below 1%. Lower energy inflation produced the largest change in the overall figure. Annual energy inflation fell four percentage points to 11.7%, compared with 15.8% in May. Energy price growth declined in 24 of the…

GUATEMALA / RankWire.AI / – Guatemala raised the alert to its highest level in three departments as Fuego volcano produced ash, lava and dangerous pyroclastic flows. Authorities placed Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez and Escuintla under red alert. A nationwide orange alert also remained in force during the emergency. Officials said ashfall affected about 29,000 people across 18 communities, while emergency crews continued evacuations near exposed ravines and settlements. The eruption intensified Monday as columns of gas and ash rose above the crater. Pyroclastic flows moved down five ravines on the volcano’s western and southwestern slopes. Some flows traveled between five and seven…