GCC countries scored 66.9 in the 2026 Economic Freedom Index, beating the global 59.9 average as the UAE, Qatar and Oman led the bloc overall.
UAE and French foreign ministers met in Abu Dhabi to review bilateral ties and regional developments as Gulf security concerns stay elevated.
Health
DR Congo has ended its national mpox emergency after two years, with officials reporting sharply lower weekly cases while surveillance stays in place.
Travel
flydubai will launch daily Dubai-Bangkok flights on July 1, adding Thailand’s capital to its network with Emirates codeshare connections.
Technology
China launched a Long March-8 rocket from Hainan, sending 18 internet satellites into orbit for the seventh Qianfan networking mission.
