A newly discovered species of dinosaur in Zimbabwe has provided scientists with important new clues about the early evolution of dinosaurs in southern Africa. Named Musango matutodonensis, the 4.5-metre-long dinosaur is the fifth species identified from the African country. The fossil was discovered along Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe and dates to approximately 210 million years of Late Triassic period. The discovery was made through a collaborative effort involving researchers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, highlighting the region's rich but understudied fossil record.
Dubai's newly launched Dubai Invite tourism incentive programme received more than 10,000 applications within its first 48 hours, prompting the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to review the limit on the number of reward packages available. Speaking to Dubai Eye's Business Breakfast, Noor Algeziry, Associate Vice President, MENA & Special Projects at DET, said the initiative had received an overwhelming response since its launch, exceeding initial expectations. The programme offers UAE citizens and residents reward packages worth more than AED3,000 for inviting family m
India has approved its first dengue vaccine after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to QDENGA, developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India. The approval marks a significant milestone in the country's efforts to combat dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that affects millions of people annually. The vaccine has been approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years and can be administered regardless of whether a person has previously been infected with dengue. Unlike some existing dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require pre-vaccination screening, enabling eli
French parliament has approved legislation to ban children under 15 from using social media platforms, making it the first EU country to introduce such a measure. President Emmanuel Macron described the ban as a key reform of his final term and pledged to enforce it by September. The bill was passed by the National Assembly with 279 votes to 81, after receiving Senate approval. It requires social media platforms to verify users' ages, with under-15s blocked from creating new accounts from 1 September. The measure will also apply to existing accounts from 1 January 2027, according to the le
Battery electric vehicle (BEV) prices in Germany fell by around 18% between 2020 and 2025, despite an increase in average list prices, according to a joint study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI). The study, based on more than 100,000 vehicle data points across six passenger vehicle segments, found that while the average list price of EVs rose from around €37,000 in 2020 to €53,000 in 2025, the increase was driven by consumers shifting towards larger and more premium electric mod
An increasing number of Indian students are choosing Europe over the United States for higher education, as lower tuition fees, improved mobility pathways under the India-EU trade deal, and stricter US immigration policies reshape study-abroad preferences. Students and education consultants say countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, Portugal and Italy are attracting greater interest from Indian applicants. Germany, in particular, has become a preferred destination for engineering students due to its affordable education system and strong industry connections. The shift come
The United Arab Emirates has approved a unified licensing framework for higher education institutions, introducing a single national system to regulate universities and strengthen governance, quality and accountability across the sector. Approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the framework establishes common standards for universities operating in the UAE and is to be applied to all higher education institutions from 2026. Developed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the framework gives a unified re
The United States has introduced new visa regulations for foreign students and exchange visitors, updating long-standing immigration rules to strengthen oversight while preserving the integrity of temporary visa programmes. Under the revised framework, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has replaced the previous system of indefinite visa admissions with fixed periods of stay for F, J, and I visas, which cover international students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. The changes are aimed at ensuring visa holders complete the purpose of their visit without remaini
African countries have secured US$900 million in new funding commitments to boost clean cooking, marking a major outcome of the Africa Clean Cooking Summit held in Nairobi. The funding forms part of a broader effort to address one of the continent's most pressing development challenges, with more than 923 million people in Africa still relying on traditional cooking methods such as firewood and charcoal. According to summit organisers, these practices contribute to widespread health problems, environmental degradation and economic hardship. The commitments were announced during a high-l
A new study led by Curtin University has found that the risk of type 2 diabetes is influenced not only by body weight but also by muscle health, suggesting that preserving muscle mass could play a key role in diabetes prevention. Published in one of the world's leading diabetes journals, the research analysed health data from nearly 480,000 adults over 14 years, all of whom were diabetic free at the start of the study. Researchers focused on people with sarcopenic obesity, characterised by both excess body fat and reduced muscle mass. The findings showed that people with sarcopeni