News

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held a phone call with Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, during which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Preparations and loading operations began on Sunday for the Umm Al Emarat humanitarian vessel, as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 to support the people of the Gaza Strip.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has praised the decision by the jury of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to honour the historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as the award’s recipient for 2026, reaffirming Italy’s support for the peace process between the two countries.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new bridge at the busy Al Qudra Road intersection, cutting journey times by more than 50 per cent and almost tripling traffic capacity on one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors.

The UAE Cyber Security Council has urged residents to take extra care when handling financial information online, warning that banking and payment data remain among the top targets for cybercriminals.

Kyiv's foreign minister said on Sunday the Ukrainian and Russian leaders need to meet in person to hash out the hardest remaining issues in peace talks, and that only US President Donald Trump has the power to bring about an agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's party is set to secure a big majority in Japan's lower house in an election on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK forecast, based on exit polls.

Voters in Thailand came out in numbers on Sunday for a general election defined by a three-way battle between conservative, progressive and populist camps, with no single party expected to secure a clear majority and prolonging the spectre of political instability.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned anti-Olympics protesters as "enemies of Italy" after violence on the fringes of a demonstration in Milan on Saturday night and sabotage attacks on the national rail network.

Australia's conservative opposition coalition reunited on Sunday after the junior partner National Party severed ties last month with the Liberal Party over its decision to back government hate speech laws drafted in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

Dubai residents can now access electricity and water services by asking questions through ChatGPT, after Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) expanded its customer support onto the AI platform.

The US and India have moved closer to a trade pact, releasing an interim framework that would lower tariffs, reshape energy ties and deepen economic cooperation as both countries seek to realign global supply chains.

Aldar and Dubai Holding have expanded their landmark joint venture, adding two strategic land plots in Dubai that will deliver almost 14,000 new homes with a combined gross development value (GDV) exceeding AED 38 billion.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority has fined Ark Capital Management Limited (Dubai) $504,000 (over AED 1.85 million) for regulatory breaches.

The UAE and the US have signed a framework on critical mineral supply chains, with plans to finance projects in each country in the next six months.

Two-times champions England survived a major scare before labouring to a four-run victory against a plucky Nepal in a Group C thriller at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.

US skier Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the women's Alpine skiing Olympic downhill on Sunday with the race halted as she received medical attention.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on Saturday.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav led by example as the tournament co-hosts began their Twenty20 World Cup title defence with a scratchy 29-run victory over the United States in a group A contest on Saturday.

Russian fighter Usman Nurmagomedov successfully retained his Professional Fighters League (PFL) lightweight world title after defeating Britain’s Alfie Davis by submission in the fourth round, in the main event of the PFL championship held in Dubai at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday.

US television news host Savannah Guthrie said, in a video message released on Saturday, her family is willing to pay to secure her mother's return after her presumed abduction in Arizona.

Brad Arnold, a founder and lead singer of American rock band 3 Doors Down, died on Saturday, nine months after disclosing that he had kidney cancer, the group said. He was 47.

In the small coastal Puerto Rican town of Vega Baja, the global megastar who is about to command the world's biggest stage on Sunday is still just known as "Benito".

The emotional side of Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Bronte's 1847 novel "Wuthering Heights" may surprise audiences, actor Margot Robbie said at the movie's rain-lashed London premiere on Thursday.

Popular US morning news anchor Savannah Guthrie posted a video message on Wednesday addressing anyone who might be holding her missing elderly mother, presumed abducted from her Arizona home this week, pleading for them to open a line of communication.

Extravagantly coloured kites duelled above Lahore and cries of victory rang out from rooftops on Friday, as the city celebrated the lifting of an 18-year ban on a spectacular three-day traditional Punjabi kite-flying festival.

Penny, a 4-year-old Doberman pinscher, won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday, capturing the most prestigious dog show prize in the United States.

A child who was forced off a bus in the snow in northern Italy for not having the full fare will play a part in the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, his mother said.

Giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei arrived in Sichuan province on Wednesday, China's panda research base said in a social media post, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972 at a moment of tense relations between the two nations.

At Yiwu International Trade City, China’s largest wholesale market, customers crowd into a small shop searching for an unlikely bestseller ahead of the Lunar New Year.